Elegance in line. Emotion in gesture. The drawings of Watteau reveal the soul of Rococo.
Jean-Antoine Watteau (1684–1721), master of the fête galante and poetic nuance, left behind a body of drawings that rival his paintings in delicacy and insight. In this beautifully produced volume, Malcolm Cormack curates a selection of Watteau’s finest sketches—figures in motion, theatrical scenes, and intimate studies—capturing the artist’s unique ability to blend realism with reverie.
With 176 pages of reproductions and commentary, Drawings of Watteau offers a rare glimpse into the creative process of one of France’s most enigmatic painters. The book highlights Watteau’s use of red chalk, his sensitivity to posture and expression, and his influence on later artists and illustrators.
A must-have for lovers of Rococo art, French cultural history, and the quiet drama of the drawn line.