Ragotin enivré par La Rancune 1726 - 1727

Jean-Baptiste Oudry's drawing captures a scene of inebriation and social drama. The slumped figure of Ragotin, hat askew, becomes a vessel for the potent brew of 'La Rancune' – resentment. This emotive force isn’t just a feeling; it’s personified, almost a character in itself, stirring the scene. The motif of intoxication carries a rich history. We see echoes of Bacchus, the Roman god of wine, whose frenzied followers, the bacchantes, embody the loss of control and reason. Think of Caravaggio’s depictions of a young, tipsy Bacchus, or even further back, to the ecstatic rites of Dionysus in ancient Greece. But here, it’s the psychological weight of resentment that seizes our attention. Oudry hints at the complex interplay between social transgression and internal turmoil, reflecting a collective memory of past grievances. The emotional charge is palpable, a powerful current engaging viewers on a subconscious level. It's a potent reminder of how human passions transcend time, continually re-emerging in new guises.