Seated Guitarist 

Jean-Antoine Watteau made this drawing of a seated guitarist with red chalk, a material beloved for its ability to capture the nuances of light and shadow. Red chalk is a naturally occurring pigment, mined and then prepared into sticks for drawing. Watteau expertly used this medium to create soft, delicate lines that define the figure’s pose and clothing, capturing the sitter’s relaxed, informal nature. Chalk allowed him to achieve subtle gradations in tone, which give the figure volume and depth. Watteau's choice of red chalk reflects a broader artistic trend of the time, moving away from the more formal and academic drawing styles towards a looser, more expressive approach. The ease with which chalk can be blended and manipulated allowed artists to experiment with new techniques and effects, resulting in a greater sense of immediacy and spontaneity in their work. This drawing reminds us that understanding the materials and making of art can reveal so much about its meaning and cultural significance.