Smell 1720 - 1770

Francois Boucher created this print called "Smell." The composition arranges figures around a central vase, drawing our eye to this focal point. The delicate lines define forms but also create a sense of texture, particularly in the rendering of fabrics and foliage. This is one of a set of prints representing the five senses. Consider how the very act of depicting "smell" pushes against traditional visual representation. Here, it is suggested through an almost allegorical grouping—a young woman and two attendants surrounded by aromatic flora. The architecture in the background, the textures of the fabrics, and the treatment of light all contribute to a Rococo sensibility. The artist invites us to consider how art translates sensory experiences into visual forms. While the scent itself remains elusive, the print serves as a coded representation—a structured signifier—of something beyond sight.