Meadow with Trees; verso: Head of a Boy c. 1780 - 1785

Editor: Here we have Fragonard's "Meadow with Trees," a pencil drawing. It feels so immediate, almost like a snapshot. What's striking to you about it? Curator: Well, it's fascinating how Fragonard uses a seemingly simple landscape to negotiate the changing role of nature in art and society. Consider the burgeoning middle class and their desire for pastoral imagery. Does this drawing reflect an escape from urban life, or perhaps, a constructed ideal? Editor: A constructed ideal... That’s interesting. I hadn’t considered the social aspect. It seemed so personal. Curator: Exactly! And that tension between the personal and the social is where the power of art often lies. Did exploring this artwork shift your perspective? Editor: Definitely. I see it now as less of a simple sketch and more of a commentary on its time.