Moliere? n.d.

Robert Nanteuil created this black chalk drawing, Moliere?, in France in the second half of the 17th century. The drawing, now held by the Art Institute of Chicago, tentatively depicts the famous playwright Molière. Nanteuil was the official engraver to King Louis XIV and a celebrated portraitist. He worked at a time when the French monarchy sought to consolidate its power through the arts, dictating artistic style and subject matter. Molière, although favored by Louis XIV, was frequently censored for his satirical plays that mocked social conventions. Nanteuil’s portrait, with its direct gaze and realistic depiction, offers a glimpse into the cultural milieu of 17th-century France. Historians rely on various sources, like letters, journals, and official documents, to understand the complex interplay of art, power, and society during this period. By considering such contexts, we can better appreciate the nuanced ways in which artists like Nanteuil engaged with the social and institutional forces of their time.