Leda and the Swan, after Boucher 19th century

Jacques Charlier created this miniature grisaille enamel on metal, "Leda and the Swan, after Boucher", sometime after the 1700s. The scene illustrates the Greek myth of Leda's seduction by Zeus, who has taken the form of a swan. It's hard to overlook how gender and power intertwine within the artistic choices made here. Charlier reproduces a composition by Francois Boucher, whose soft, rococo style was popular among the French aristocracy. By the 18th century, mythological paintings like these had become a popular trope in courtly life, and the story of Leda and the Swan presented a titillating scene, thinly-veiled in the guise of classical art. Representations of women in these contexts often reflect the male gaze of the time. The artist's choices prompt questions about the dynamics of desire, representation, and storytelling. As you consider this piece, what emotions or questions does it evoke in you? How does it challenge or reinforce societal attitudes about the body and sexuality?