Studies van figuren, lampen en spiegels 1770 - 1825

This is Studies of Figures, Lamps and Mirrors, a pen drawing by Simon Andreas Krausz from around the turn of the 19th century. The drawing's seeming randomness – hats, faces, chandeliers, mirrors – actually gives us an insight into the artistic training and social conditions of the time. Krausz, who was Dutch, made these sketches for the purpose of self-improvement. Artists were expected to have a mastery of the human form and the way light could be reflected off of surfaces. The presence of mirrors and lamps suggests the artist's interest in the play of light and reflection, a popular theme in Dutch Golden Age painting. The various figures seem to be images of fashionable society. During this period, there was an increasing emphasis on personal expression and individuality, which found an outlet in fashion. This drawing offers a glimpse into the social world of the late 1700s and early 1800s. By looking at the artwork and the social history around its creation, we can better understand the artist's intentions and the social context of the work.