Scene from Racine's Athalie 1817

Charles Abraham Chasselat created this drawing, "Scene from Racine's Athalie," using pen and brown ink with gray wash. The sepia tones imbue the scene with a sense of historical gravitas, evoking a somber mood that mirrors the theatrical intensity of Racine's play. Chasselat employs a compositional structure that directs our gaze towards the central figure, Athalie, seated and commanding attention through her gesture. The artist arranges the figures to frame Athalie, drawing the viewer into the drama of power and defiance. Light and shadow define the figures, creating a sense of depth and emotional intensity. The detailed linework and tonal variations add to the narrative complexity, illustrating a scene rife with tension and moral conflict. This method emphasizes the performative aspects of power and challenges the stability of the moral and political order. As viewers, we are invited to consider the fluid and contested nature of identity and authority.