Monsieur d'Astros, Vicar-General of the Archdiocese of Paris; verso: Faint Sketch of Talleyrand Holding a Pillow 1805 - 1806

Curator: This is Jacques-Louis David's sketch, "Monsieur d'Astros, Vicar-General of the Archdiocese of Paris." Editor: The first thing I notice is the grid; it feels clinical, almost like a preparatory step toward something grander. Curator: Exactly! David often used such grids. Consider the power dynamics at play: the church official captured by the hand of an artist soon to be affiliated with revolution. Editor: The hat... it’s a potent symbol of authority, but here, in this sketch, it almost looks like he's simply holding a small dog. Curator: Indeed, the softness of the hat juxtaposed with the rigid grid creates tension. It really makes us question the nature of power and representation. Editor: It invites a fascinating discourse. These sketches reveal how even symbols can be rendered vulnerable and transient through art.