Roman Lictor Weeping (The Roman Album) 1775 - 1780

Curator: Here we have Jacques-Louis David's small but poignant drawing, "Roman Lictor Weeping," part of his "Roman Album." Editor: The raw emotion hits you right away, doesn't it? There's such vulnerability captured in this quick sketch. Curator: David's technique is fascinating. He uses ink washes to give depth to this figure, a lictor, who traditionally represents Roman authority. Editor: A lictor, weeping? It's a powerful subversion. The drawing itself speaks to the cost of power, doesn't it? The papery support, the ink, these were easily sourced, but the labor to create such emotional impact— that’s the value here. Curator: Absolutely. And perhaps it's a rumination on David's own changing allegiances during the French Revolution. Who bears the weight of history? Editor: It makes you wonder about the human cost behind grand narratives, doesn't it? Curator: It does. A small drawing, but a giant question mark hanging in the air.