A Man Making Water 1720 - 1780

François Vivares created “A Man Making Water,” an etching, sometime in the 18th century. This seemingly simple image of a man urinating gains complexity when viewed through the lens of its time. The act of depicting such a private moment in art raises questions about class, privacy, and representation. Consider the social status of the man depicted; his clothing suggests a working-class background, rendering his act of exposure and vulnerability a potential commentary on social hierarchies. How might the audience in the 1700s viewed this? Did it challenge or reinforce stereotypes about the poor and working class? This work also touches on the history of the body in art. Historically, the nude form was often idealized, reserved for mythological or heroic figures. Vivares’ depiction of a common man engaged in a basic bodily function disrupts this tradition, inviting viewers to reflect on the relationship between the body, identity, and social norms. It reminds us that art has the power to both reflect and shape our perceptions of ourselves and others.