Seated Cavalier 1816 - 1877

Jean-Baptiste Madou created this drawing, *Seated Cavalier*, using graphite, black and red chalk, and charcoal. Madou, who lived through immense social upheaval in Belgium, from the Napoleonic era through the country’s independence, made his name depicting scenes from everyday life. In this work, the detailed rendering of the Cavalier’s attire and weaponry evokes a sense of historical romanticism, and perhaps, even nostalgia. The Cavalier, a figure often associated with nobility and military prowess, is here presented in a moment of repose. The drawing employs an interesting contrast. We see a figure of assumed authority, armed with a sword, yet he is seated, almost melancholic. What does it mean to see a symbol of power depicted in such a vulnerable state? What narratives are being developed or challenged here about masculinity, class, and the weight of historical expectation?