Leaving the Theater 

Constantin Guys made this watercolor sketch, entitled *Leaving the Theater*, sometime in the mid-19th century. Its loose brushstrokes and informal composition are characteristic of his distinctive style. Guys, who worked as an illustrator for much of his career, found his subject matter in the social life of the Second Empire in France. As a sketch of people caught in a moment of leisure, the work captures an emerging modern sensibility. Theaters were a public stage where social norms were not only performed but also contested. The clothing and adornments of the figures in this image tell us about the complex social codes of the time. The women’s dresses, for example, signal their class and status. The artist’s attention to these minute details reveals a fascination with social structures. Art historians can piece together a richer understanding of the artwork through careful study of the culture that produced it. By researching theater programs, fashion plates, and social commentaries from the period, we can learn about the social rituals represented here. Ultimately, it is the task of the historian to contextualize the work within its historical milieu.