Standing Man; verso: blank page c. 1758

Editor: Here we have Fragonard's "Standing Man," a small ink drawing on paper. The sketchy quality gives it an immediate, almost playful feeling. What do you see in this quick sketch? Curator: It’s a whisper, isn’t it? A fleeting thought captured. I imagine Fragonard, quill in hand, observing a figure and distilling him to these essential lines. Notice the hat—it adds a touch of personality. Is he a gentleman, a scholar? Perhaps both. I wonder what he's thinking about. Editor: I like the idea of it being a fleeting thought. It definitely makes me think about what I don't see as much as what is there. Curator: Precisely! The negative space is as crucial as the ink. It invites us to complete the story, to imagine the world around this man. Editor: That's a really insightful way of looking at it! Thanks for helping me to appreciate it in a new way.