Kostuum van Philippe de Commynes uit het drama Louis XI à Péronne 1826

Editor: Here we have Louis Boulanger’s “Costume of Philippe de Commynes from the drama Louis XI à Péronne”, created in 1826, using watercolor. It's currently at the Rijksmuseum. I'm immediately drawn to the split of cool colors; the two tones of blue creating depth, and the crisp lines throughout. What strikes you when you observe this piece? Curator: The primary formal concern is the meticulous rendering of the figure's garment. Observe the play of light across the blue fabric. Boulanger utilizes hatching and layering of watercolor to achieve a rich, textural surface. Note how the costume, delineated with such precision, becomes the focal point, eclipsing the background which dissolves into an ethereal wash. Editor: I hadn't considered how he uses watercolor to create a sense of depth! Are you drawn more to the texture or the figure in this drawing? Curator: It's less a matter of being *drawn* than a matter of understanding the structural priority within the composition. The texture *is* the figure, or rather, the costume is. The application of paint articulates form, space and, ultimately, meaning within the visual field. The lines demarcating the various planes on the character's robe, in shades from nearly-opaque to very-faded, serve this purpose of revealing depth. Editor: I see what you mean. Paying close attention to the technical skills reveals the artwork’s function and meaning in ways that just looking at the artwork alone does not. Curator: Precisely. By analyzing its structural elements, we move closer to understanding the artistic decisions and visual impact intended by Boulanger.