Standing Man with Hand on Basin, from Figures de modes

Standing Man with Hand on Basin, from Figures de modes by Jean Antoine Watteau (French, 1684-1721) is an important early 18th-century print created during the transitional period from the Baroque grandeur of Louis XIV to the intimacy of the Rococo. Produced between 1705 and 1715, this work is classified as an etching, meticulously rendered in black ink on ivory laid paper. The process of etching allowed Watteau to produce prints that captured the immediacy of his drawing style, disseminating his influential character studies beyond the confines of painting.

The work is part of Watteau’s broader Figures de modes series, which explored contemporary Parisian style, social manners, and various costume types. The piece depicts a standing man, possibly an attendant or servant, leaning slightly with one hand resting upon a visible basin. This focus on individual character and detailed fashion was central to the artist's emerging reputation. Though known today primarily for inventing the fête galante genre, Watteau was a prolific draftsman whose prints were highly valued as models for other artists and designers throughout France. This specific example resides in the distinguished print collection of the Art Institute of Chicago, illustrating the enduring cultural significance of Watteau’s graphic output. Historically important prints such as this are often made available through public domain initiatives, ensuring continued access to the artistry of one of France's seminal early 18th-century masters.