David's Daughter Emilie 1805 - 1824

Curator: This is a quick graphite sketch, approximately 21 by 16 centimeters, depicting Jacques-Louis David's daughter, Emilie. It's held at the Harvard Art Museums. Editor: It looks so fragile, doesn't it? The light touch of the graphite gives her a kind of ethereal quality, almost like a ghost. Curator: Right, and it's important to remember that graphite, even seemingly simple sketches like this, had to be manufactured and distributed, becoming more accessible to artists like David. Editor: The sitter's youth and her direct gaze also speaks volumes. She's not just a subject; she's an individual being presented during a time of immense political change in France. Curator: And the geometric lines suggest a planned composition, revealing David's meticulous planning in his artistry. Editor: I see her here, caught between being a daughter and becoming a woman in a revolutionary world. Curator: Indeed, it’s a tender moment captured, a glimpse into domestic life amidst grand historical narratives. Editor: Yes, a reminder that even revolutionaries have daughters, and the personal is always political.