Yslaire

A peculiar graphic novel which focuses on the artist Jacques-Louis David and the creation of his painting "The Death of Bara". While the images are often striking, the story itself feels more like a philosophical snapshot than an actual plot. Perhaps it's just very French. One day, while looking for a model to represent a young Revolutionary martyr (the titular Bara), David stumbles across a beautiful boy who captivates his aesthetic senses. Yet who is this mysterious adolescent? Is he a homeless waif searching for his mother, as he claims to be, or an embodiment of the spirit of the age? What is the meaning of what follows? Are we supposed to see David gradually losing faith in the extreme revolutionary principles held by Robespierre, which he had previously favoured? How are we supposed to feel about Robespierre himself? You end up with more questions than answers. While I think it's rather fun of the Louvre to commission graphic novels linked to the history of art, I'm not sure that this particular volume really breaks the bounds of self-indulgence on the part of the author. As a by-the-by, I'd also note that I felt slightly uncomfortable at the sensual treatment of the young boy.… (more)