Zittende figuur, naar links 1732 - 1740

Editor: We’re looking at "Zittende figuur, naar links," or "Seated Figure, Facing Left," a drawing etched on paper from around 1732 to 1740. It’s by Jacques Philippe Le Bas and it’s here at the Rijksmuseum. I'm struck by the subject’s apparent weariness; you can almost feel the weight of their years. What stands out to you? Curator: Weariness, yes, but also, perhaps, a certain resignation, or even contemplation? I imagine him lost in thought, the world fading away around him like the ink bleeding softly into the page. What story is written on that face, or hidden beneath those draperies? What do *you* think, looking at this baroque gentleman? Do you find the style stuffy, or are you drawn in? Editor: Well, Baroque isn’t always my favorite – sometimes it feels overly decorative, but there’s something so direct about this piece, especially because it is just line art. Curator: It's the quiet intensity of the gaze, even averted, isn't it? Le Bas uses the very essence of line, a whispering contour, to capture something profoundly human. I love the tension between the formality of the pose and the intimacy of the moment. Notice how the drape pools around him like thought itself congealing, while the chair is the anchor back to earth. Does that make sense? Editor: Yes! It is less about status and more about mortality perhaps. This drawing now feels deeply relatable, even though it’s centuries old. Thanks for making me look closer! Curator: My pleasure. The beauty is in finding those echoes of ourselves across time. It shows us that really, despite it all, we are all just humans on chairs, hoping it lasts another day.