Architectuur en figuren 1867 - 1871

Rodolphe Bresdin made this ink drawing, Architectuur en figuren, sometime during his career. Bresdin was an outsider artist, whose life of poverty and political radicalism shaped his unique artistic vision. The drawing presents a dreamscape of architectural elements and figures. Consider the social status of the figures depicted, like the people on horseback, and the way it contrasts with the lives of ordinary people in 19th century France. Bresdin was a supporter of the 1848 revolution, a time when class tensions were high. This drawing reflects the social and political dynamics of the time. Bresdin’s work resonates with a sense of unease and displacement. It shows his personal struggle against the societal norms and expectations of his time. The scattered figures and architectural studies are reminiscent of the fragmentation of identity, and how the historical and cultural context shapes the individual’s sense of self.