Standing Man with Plumed Hat and Cape

Editor: So, here we have Pieter Jansz. Quast's "Standing Man with Plumed Hat and Cape," housed at the Harvard Art Museums. It looks like a quick sketch, all in pencil, maybe 8 by 6 inches? The figure seems almost comical, with that ridiculously oversized hat. What catches your eye in this piece? Curator: Well, I find myself drawn into the swagger, wouldn't you say? There's a performative aspect here—a man caught mid-flourish. Is he preening, posing? I wonder what story Quast is trying to tell, or perhaps it is a social commentary. Look at the deft use of line to convey texture and form, how the cape seems to billow even on static paper. It reminds me a little of commedia dell'arte. Editor: You’re right; there's definitely a theatrical quality! Thanks, I'm seeing so much more now. Curator: My pleasure! Art is a continuing story, and we are all telling it together.