Two Studies for Fountains with Two Nude Women Holding a Water Jar c. 18th century

Curator: This delicate graphite drawing is titled "Two Studies for Fountains with Two Nude Women Holding a Water Jar" by Jean-Honoré Fragonard. The Harvard Art Museums hold this sketch, measuring about 18 by 23 centimeters. Editor: It's quite striking! The figures seem to emerge from the page, almost dreamlike. There’s a softness to the rendering that belies the monumentality of the intended fountains. Curator: Fragonard, active in 18th-century France, was known for his playful and often erotic paintings. These fountain studies, though preparatory, reflect the period's fascination with classical ideals and the female form as an allegorical figure. Editor: It's interesting how the water jar, held aloft by these women, becomes a focal point. Water, often associated with purity and life, is here mediated through the female body, reinforcing gendered power dynamics. Curator: Indeed. The sketch offers insights into the artistic process of designing public monuments during that era, showing how classical ideals were reinterpreted and presented to the public. Editor: Yes, and reflecting on today’s perspective, it invites us to critically examine how these historical representations continue to inform our perceptions of gender and public art. Curator: A valuable point—it reminds us that even preliminary sketches can hold layers of social and cultural meaning. Editor: Absolutely, seeing Fragonard’s ideas allows us to look critically at the role of women in art through the ages.