Fishing 1752

Francois Boucher's "Fishing" was made using oil paint, a traditional medium favoured by European artists for centuries. The material itself profoundly influences the artwork's appearance, with its smooth, luminous surfaces and subtle gradations of tone. Boucher's technique involves layering thin glazes of paint, a process demanding patience and skilled manipulation. The canvas support, while hidden beneath the paint, is nonetheless crucial, providing a stable surface upon which the image could be built. Boucher was one of the most celebrated Rococo painters. “Fishing” represents the artist's pastoral fantasies of courtly life. In truth, his art was as much about commerce as it was about creativity, given his success in the art market. Ultimately, understanding the materials, processes, and social context enriches our appreciation of Boucher's artistic achievement, challenging traditional notions of art as purely aesthetic expression.