The Actors Making Ready (recto); Studies of the Holy Family and Saint John the Baptist (verso) 1705 - 1710

Claude Gillot created this pen and brown ink drawing, called 'The Actors Making Ready,' sometime around the turn of the 18th century in France. Gillot provides us with a peek behind the curtain, showing the moments before a theatrical performance. The figures, in their elaborate costumes, are gathering, perhaps running lines, or making last-minute adjustments. The presence of theatrical props, such as musical instruments, reveal the performative nature of social life. Gillot belonged to a generation of artists who questioned the strict academic system, a system that was endorsed by the French monarchy. His interest in theater and performance can be seen as a commentary on the social structures of his time. The court of Louis XIV was itself a highly staged environment, and Gillot seems to be critiquing its artificiality. The study of drawings like this involves understanding the social function of art. Art historians might consult theater records, costume designs, and other visual materials to reconstruct the cultural context in which Gillot was working.