Three Studies of Seated Women c. 1715

Jean-Antoine Watteau made "Three Studies of Seated Women" with pencil and chalk, which is now at the Art Institute of Chicago. The figures are sketched with soft lines and delicate shading, giving them a gentle presence. Each woman is depicted in a different pose, yet they are united by their shared attire. The arrangement of figures across the composition creates a visual rhythm. Watteau's approach here resonates with broader artistic trends of his time, where the study of human form was used to capture fleeting moments of human life. The use of line and shading suggests a focus on surface appearances rather than deep psychological insight. We might consider how Watteau's drawings like this represent a shift towards art that reflects the sensuous and temporal aspects of existence. The image invites us to consider how these formal choices contribute to a discourse on beauty, representation, and the transience of human experience.