Young Man with Downcast Eyes c. 18th century

Editor: So, here we have "Young Man with Downcast Eyes" by Charles Parrocel. It's a red chalk drawing. There's something so incredibly gentle about this profile. What do you see in this drawing? Curator: A quiet moment, wouldn't you say? Parrocel's choice of sanguine chalk—it breathes life into what could have been a simple study. I almost feel like I'm intruding on his thoughts. Editor: Intruding, how so? Curator: His gaze is inward, isn't it? The feathered cap feels almost like a crown of introspection. Do you think he's dreaming, perhaps? Or lost in a memory? Editor: Maybe both! I hadn't thought of the hat that way. Curator: Art's like that, isn't it? A mirror reflecting our own souls. Editor: Definitely. I'll never look at a feathered cap the same way again!