Staande vrouw met ontblote schouder op de rug gezien 1706

This drawing, "Standing Woman with Bare Shoulder Seen from the Back," was created by Sébastien Leclerc I, a French artist working in the 17th and early 18th centuries. Leclerc was employed as a designer and printmaker for the French court and aristocracy. His work often reflected the classical ideals and aesthetics favored by the elite. This drawing presents a female figure, draped in what appears to be classical robes, her posture serene and dignified, yet there is a complex tension here. While her exposed shoulder hints at vulnerability, the subject’s presentation is designed to communicate an ideal of beauty and virtue, rather than explore her individuality. Consider how Leclerc, positioned within a patriarchal society, crafted this image for a specific audience. It reveals more about the values and expectations placed upon women during this period than it does about the lived experience of an individual. The work serves as a reminder of how artistic representations can perpetuate social norms and shape our understanding of identity.