Girl with a Gauze Scarf c. 1770

Jean-Baptiste Greuze painted this portrait, Girl with a Gauze Scarf, using oil on canvas in the 18th century. The artist employed traditional painting methods, applying layers of pigment to create a smooth, lifelike surface. The handling of the oil paint is important to consider. Greuze’s application of paint captures the delicate textures of the girl’s scarf and skin, while also conveying a sense of her youth and vitality. The thin, translucent gauze scarf is rendered with delicate brushstrokes, highlighting its ethereal quality. Paintings like this provide a glimpse into the fashion and material culture of the time, as well as the social norms and expectations surrounding women. Gauze was produced via complex weaving processes. Its presence in the painting speaks to the labour involved in textile production, and the consumer culture it supported. By paying attention to the materials, making, and social context of this artwork, we can appreciate the depth of its meaning and challenge traditional distinctions between fine art and craft.