Geographer (Le geographe) 

Alphonse Legros created this etching titled 'Geographer', depicting an elderly man hunched over a desk in what seems to be a study. Legros lived through the social upheavals of 19th-century France. The man, presumably the geographer, is surrounded by books, maps, and a globe, tools of his trade. The window behind him offers a glimpse of the outside world, contrasting with the interior, implying a world that is known and knowable, or unknown and needing exploration. Legros was known for his interest in the lives of ordinary people, often depicting peasants and workers with empathy. 'Geographer' reflects an appreciation for intellectual labor and a curiosity about the world, yet the image could also serve as a meditation on the limits of knowledge and the human desire to understand our place in the world. What do you think?