Jongen met donker krullend haar 1830 - 1881

Adolphe Mouilleron created this drawing of a boy with dark curly hair using graphite. Mouilleron lived in a time of shifting social structures, influenced by romanticism and early industrialization. The subject's identity is ambiguous, reflecting broader gender and class fluidity. The boy's soft features and elaborate curls contrast with the period's rigid gender norms. This challenges traditional representations and suggests alternative narratives around masculinity and social standing. The delicacy of the graphite adds to the figure’s introspective mood. Consider how this drawing reflects and shapes societal perceptions of youth and identity. It invites us to reflect on our own assumptions about gender and class, as well as the emotional dimensions of identity.