Portrait of M. Chenard n.d.

Jean Antoine Laurent created this black chalk drawing, *Portrait of M. Chenard,* capturing the likeness of an individual in a moment of quiet contemplation. It's interesting to consider this portrait within the context of late 18th and early 19th century France, a time marked by revolution and shifting social structures. Laurent, as an artist, navigated this world by creating images of the bourgeoisie. The portrait is not just a representation of an individual, but a reflection of the values and aspirations of a class on the rise. What does it mean to capture someone's likeness? Is it an act of preservation, or an assertion of power? As you consider these questions, allow yourself to be drawn into the subtle details of Laurent's work: the soft shading, and the subject's gaze. Notice how traditional modes of portraiture are subtly being infused with a new kind of intimacy, reflecting the changing sensibilities of the era.