Her Size is so Ravishing 1776

Pierre Adrien Le Beau made this print titled "Her Size is so Ravishing," of an unknown date, using etching and engraving. This image encapsulates the performative aspects of aristocratic femininity in pre-revolutionary France. The woman is depicted in an intimate moment of self-adornment; the viewer is invited into a private world, yet the woman's poised presentation suggests an awareness of being watched. The elaborate hairstyle and corset emphasize the artificiality of courtly beauty standards. How might this relate to the social expectations placed on women of the era to be visually pleasing objects? The title itself, "Her Size is so Ravishing," speaks to the commodification of the female body, and the male gaze that was so influential at this time. Consider how the print negotiates the tension between personal identity and public image. The woman's reflection becomes a site where societal expectations and personal desires meet.