Standing Man with a Hat, Facing Left, from Figures de modes

Standing Man with a Hat, Facing Left, from Figures de modes is an early 18th-century print by Jean Antoine Watteau French, 1684-1721. Classified as an etching in black on ivory laid paper, this work demonstrates the artist's developing interest in depicting contemporary costume and character studies. The early date range (1705-1715) places this piece before Watteau’s full maturity, linking it to preparatory studies or models that would inform his later Rococo masterpieces.

The subject, a standing man positioned facing left, exemplifies the detailed attention Watteau paid to posture and the current fashion trends of the time in France. This focus on realistic, individualized characters contrasts with the stylized figures dominant in the preceding Baroque era. This etching likely belongs to a larger group of studies known as Figures de modes, intended to document and disseminate fashionable attire and character types used in theatrical and genre scenes. Watteau’s dedication to the print medium, often produced in collaboration with or later interpreted by others, helped popularize his aesthetic and ensured that his influence extended widely among collectors and other artists.

As one of the foundational artists leading the stylistic shift from Baroque grandeur toward the intimacy and refinement of the Rococo, Watteau’s delicate studies remain highly prized. This important print is part of the extensive collection held by the Art Institute of Chicago. Due to its age and cultural importance, works like Standing Man with a Hat, Facing Left, from Figures de modes often enter the public domain, allowing broader access to these pivotal early 18th-century prints that defined the visual culture of France.