Blad met plooi- en gewaadstudies 1780 - 1849

David-Pierre Giottino Humbert de Superville made this study sheet with pen in the late 18th or early 19th century, probably in the Netherlands. It shows four different studies of sleeves and draped arms. As art historians, we can ask: what was the institutional setting for such a drawing? The artist was a professor of drawing at Leiden University, and such studies would have been part of academic artistic practice. He was interested in classical art, and the drapery in these drawings evokes classical sculpture. But these sketches aren't just copies of classical forms; the loose and flowing style suggests a break from academic tradition. The focus on the body and its coverings raises interesting questions about the social construction of the self and the ways in which clothing and appearance shape our identities. To understand the drawing further, scholars could consult Humbert de Superville’s teaching notes, as well as other figure studies from the period. This work reminds us that art doesn't exist in a vacuum; it's always shaped by the social and institutional forces of its time.