Melancholia 1724 - 1741

"Melancholia" is a red chalk drawing by French artist Henri Simon Thomassin, completed sometime between 1724 and 1741. The artwork, currently housed at the Metropolitan Museum of Art, depicts a woman draped in flowing fabric, her head resting on a skull. Scattered around her are objects symbolic of science and the arts, including a celestial globe, books, and a compass. This striking composition, a meditation on mortality and the fleeting nature of life, exemplifies the Baroque style that favored dramatic use of light and shadow to enhance emotional impact. The drawing's delicate lines and subtle shading contribute to a poignant and timeless depiction of melancholy.