Study for The Speculators at the Palais Royal 1797

Curator: This charcoal drawing is entitled "Study for The Speculators at the Palais Royal," created by Louis Léopold Boilly around 1797. The study currently resides here at the Art Institute of Chicago. Editor: My first impression is that these are men of varying statuses, captured with remarkable detail. The central figure, seen from the back, is particularly striking. It has such strong symbolic quality. Curator: Boilly was quite astute in depicting social realities, and this sketch provides insight into the climate of post-revolutionary France. The Palais Royal was then a hub of commerce, intrigue, and certainly speculation. Editor: Absolutely. Look at the man on the far right, fiddling with something in his hands; is it money? Or some sort of gambling token? There’s a clear sense of tension there, like something momentous is about to occur. Gambling was an ancient, widespread way for humans to manage risks, seek advantage, and divine the will of the gods. This symbolic power surely made the practice feel charged to Boilly's audience, for whom the revolution still loomed large. Curator: Precisely! This preparatory drawing allowed Boilly to explore the types of figures that would populate his larger painting. He would have captured the hustle and bustle and societal shifts within French society, showing these emergent financial systems and anxieties around it. Editor: The variety in clothing indicates class differences, or at least varying degrees of success in the game of fortune. The loose clothing and scarves seem almost like signals or codes. What do you think that conveys? Curator: Boilly might use that costuming to make these "speculators" recognizable. The shawls and the hats may very well signal involvement in clandestine dealings. He gives us an intimate peek into a specific subculture. Editor: Right! The figure drawn in full rear view with their partially revealed backside suggests the speculative activities that people indulged in, implying things were maybe slightly 'behind closed doors.' The artist shows that their figures carry psychological depth. The artist masterfully captures a sense of uncertainty, of the volatile atmosphere of speculation. Curator: It’s truly compelling how Boilly captures a pivotal moment. It acts as a visual record that speaks volumes about power and social mobility in that particular moment in Parisian society. Editor: Yes, the enduring nature of human endeavors—the risks we take, and the symbols we create around them—resonate through this single work. I find that truly incredible.