Interieur van een notaris- of loterijkantoor

About this artwork

annotatie, recto, midden boven, pen en bruin inkt: ‘51. (?)’

Art Historical Context

This delicate red chalk drawing by Charles Nicolas Cochin II captures the bustling interior of a notary’s or lottery office, a common hub of 18th-century administrative and commercial life. Created between 1725 and 1790, the compact work (just 140 by 89 millimetres) offers an intimate glimpse into the paperwork, ledgers, and human interactions that defined such spaces. Cochin, a leading French draftsman and engraver of the period, frequently produced such studies as preparatory works for prints that documented contemporary society. The medium of red chalk lends the scene a warm, lively quality, while the verso’s red-chalk wash suggests the drawing may have been intended for transfer to a printing plate. A faint ink inscription reading “51. (?)” at the top hints that the sheet once belonged to a larger series or sketchbook. Though modest in size, the drawing reflects the Enlightenment-era fascination with everyday institutions and the precise observational skills that made Cochin a favourite illustrator of his time.