Zittende figuren langs een bomenlaan c. 1765 - 1775

Jean-Honoré Fragonard made this graphite sketch, "Zittende figuren langs een bomenlaan," sometime in the 18th century. At first glance, the sketch appears to be a simple depiction of figures seated along a tree-lined avenue. But, think about the social conventions and norms of 18th-century France, a world steeped in rigid class structures and expectations. Fragonard was the son of a haberdasher, who gained entry into an aristocratic world that he was never truly a part of. What do we know about these figures sitting along a tree-lined avenue? Are they members of the aristocracy, whiling away their time in leisure? Or are they commoners, seeking respite from the demands of daily life? Fragonard leaves it up to us. The sketch invites us to contemplate the complexities of social identity, the privileges afforded to some and denied to others, while also considering the shared human experiences that transcend such boundaries. It captures a fleeting moment, charged with quiet contemplation.