Studienblatt_ Figurengruppen 

Bernard Salomon made this pen and brown ink drawing, Studienblatt: Figurengruppen, sometime in the mid-16th century. Salomon was a French printmaker and draughtsman known for his contributions to book illustration. The drawing presents ten distinct groupings of figures, reminiscent of classical sculpture, arranged in two registers. The figures are idealized, draped in classical garb, and engaged in various activities, from playing musical instruments to embracing. Salomon worked in Lyon, a city that, at the time, was a prominent center for humanist scholarship and printmaking. The humanist movement, which emphasized the study of classical antiquity, significantly influenced artistic production. Artists looked to classical models for inspiration, incorporating classical themes, styles, and motifs into their work. To better understand Salomon's art, we might consult emblem books, illustrated editions of classical texts, and archival records from the printing houses of Lyon. This drawing, in its classical aesthetic, reflects the social and intellectual values of its time.