Two Putti n.d.

Francois Boucher created this drawing of Two Putti with red chalk, a material he favored for its immediacy. The red chalk is a combination of fine-grained pigment and binder applied directly to the paper. Its powdery texture gives the drawing a soft, almost dreamlike quality, perfectly suited to the cherubic figures depicted. Boucher’s skillful manipulation of the chalk allows for a range of tonal variations, from the delicate hatching that defines the putti’s forms to the bolder strokes that create depth and shadow. The material itself invites a certain kind of handling – quick, expressive gestures that capture the fleeting moment. This directness reflects the artistic conventions of the Rococo, focused on informality. In Boucher’s time, drawings like these were not just preparatory studies but valued works of art in their own right. This speaks to the evolving status of drawing as a medium and the growing appreciation for the artist’s hand. It blurs the line between the sketch and the finished piece, reminding us that the process of creation is as important as the final result.