It's Still Life

Marcel sits very quietly looking at Courbet’s portrait Le Désespéré.

Madame, I think the man is trying to hold himself together.
Yes, Shoelace.
And perhaps the worst part is that nobody can see what is coming apart.
I think that’s exactly it.

He looks back at the painting.

Then we should not tell him to calm down.
No, Marcel. We should not.