Etourneau 1805 - 1824

Curator: Here we have Jacques-Louis David’s sketch, "Etourneau," from his notebook, now housed in the Harvard Art Museums. Editor: It’s spare, almost architectural, yet the man emanates an understated, careful pride. Curator: David, known for his role in the French Revolution, demonstrates here the Neoclassical interest in rational form and planning, look at the underlying grid. Editor: Right! He's building a man, layer by layer. His gaze is intense. What was Etourneau thinking in that moment? Curator: Perhaps about the turbulent times. David later became a court painter for Napoleon, his art reflecting the power structures of the time. Editor: It’s fascinating how political shifts can ripple through artistic expression, turning pride into something much more…weighted. Curator: Indeed, art provides such a poignant window into history, doesn't it? Editor: Absolutely, and into the hidden corners of the human heart.