Figuur met hoed en stok c. 1870 - 1894

Gustave Joseph Chéret made this drawing, *Figuur met hoed en stok*, using graphite. The figure, rendered with quick, almost dashed lines, stands centrally, evoking a sense of immediacy and movement. The hat and stick add character, while the overall composition feels dynamic despite its simplicity. Consider the semiotics at play here: the hat and stick aren't merely accessories, but signs. They hint at a narrative, a social role, or perhaps a commentary on the performative aspects of identity. Chéret employs line and form to destabilize fixed meanings, suggesting the fluidity of character. Note the stark contrast between the detailed face and the more gestural body. This contrast isn't accidental, but challenges our perception and engages with how identity is both constructed and perceived. In its unfinished quality, the drawing posits questions about representation, inviting us to consider how meaning is not fixed.