Pierrot
Medium
Graphite and watercolor
Dimensions
Sheet: 9 13/16 in. × 7 in. (25 × 17.8 cm) Mount: 13 5/8 in. × 11 in. (34.6 × 28 cm)
Classification
Drawings
Department
Drawings and Prints
Museum
Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, NY
Credit
Gift of Dr. and Mrs. Michael Schlossberg, 2019
Accession Number
2019.470.1
Art Historical Context
In the late 19th century, artist Samuel Marie Cléd de Lavigerie captured the melancholic essence of *Pierrot* in this delicate 1875 drawing, executed in graphite and watercolor on a modest sheet measuring 9 13/16 × 7 inches. Pierrot, the iconic white-faced clown from the commedia dell'arte tradition, as a poignant symbol of unrequited love and wistful longing in French pantomime and visual arts during this era. Lavigerie's intimate portrayal reflects the period's fascination with theatrical characters, blending fantasy with emotional depth amid the cultural vibrancy of Second Empire France. T...