Zittende kleine man die knipoogt 1823 - 1873

Célestin Nanteuil made this print of a winking, seated man. The man, in a theatrical costume, sits by the side of a church, winking and beckoning to us. The church is not a holy place, but a stage set. Nanteuil was part of the French Romantic movement, when artists turned away from depicting classical heroes and instead focused on legends, folklore, and the lives of ordinary people. The man’s costume reflects this interest. The Romantic movement also saw the rise of the individual, and this man has a great deal of personality. The wink suggests we are in on the joke. The Bibliothèque Nationale in France and other museums collect Nanteuil’s prints. Studying his whole body of work, and the social conditions that gave rise to it, helps us to better understand the image in front of us today. It also reminds us that our own time and place will inevitably affect our understanding, too.