A Gentleman Standing with His Arms Crossed 

François André Vincent made this drawing of a gentleman with graphite on paper sometime in the late 1700s in France. It shows a man dressed in the fashion of the time, complete with powdered wig. However, the overall impression is far from flattering. The man's pose is confrontational; he appears tense, as if he is guarding himself. The artist exaggerates the man's features to an almost grotesque degree. Consider the timing of this drawing. It was made in France in the years leading up to the Revolution. It seems to critique the self-satisfied arrogance of the aristocracy. Was Vincent taking aim at the ruling class? To understand the satire here, we would benefit from knowing who the sitter was, and what Vincent’s political views were. Researching the journals and correspondence of the artist and his contemporaries might reveal more. Art is never created in a vacuum, and historical context is vital to unlock its meaning.