An Author of Novelettes c. 18th century

Curator: Here we have "An Author of Novelettes" by A. Claude Philippe de Thubières, comte de Caylus. This print on paper, part of the Harvard Art Museums collection, captures a single figure from behind. Editor: He looks... lost in thought, doesn't he? Or maybe just lost. I love how the lines suggest weight and fabric, even though it's so minimal. Curator: Indeed. Caylus was known for his interest in antiquity, and it shows here. The figure's attire is reminiscent of classical drapery, lending the work an air of timelessness. Editor: It makes you wonder about storytelling itself—the stories we tell, the ones we live, and how they shape us, like the folds in that fabric. Curator: A fitting thought, considering the subject is meant to be an author of novelettes. Ultimately, the image raises questions about the artist’s views on authorship and identity. Editor: Art making us question. What more can we ask?