Bourgeois de Paris en habit Simple 1778

This drawing, Bourgeois de Paris en habit Simple, was created by Claude Louis Desrais. Here, a figure is placed centrally, in a landscape articulated by the faintest ink washes. It’s the carefully observed and delineated costume that arrests our attention: note the arrangement of the jacket, waistcoat and breeches. Each is rendered with such precision that we might mistake it for a technical study, were it not for the slight asymmetry in the figure's pose. The linear quality of the drawing guides our eye around the composition; from the face and powdered wig, to the walking stick, down to the feet. The figure’s stance, with one hand nonchalantly tucked into his jacket, creates a series of triangles throughout the composition. The overall effect destabilizes the conventional portrait, making it less about the individual and more about the performance of identity through clothing and posture. The drawing serves as both observation and commentary on social conventions.