Head and Torso of a Young Woman in Profile; verso: Composition Study c. 1758

Editor: This is Jean-Honoré Fragonard's "Head and Torso of a Young Woman in Profile; verso: Composition Study." It's difficult to see, but there is a faint sketch. What do you see in this seemingly blank piece of paper? Curator: The emptiness is powerful. Fragonard's sketch invites us to consider the role of the artist in shaping perceptions of beauty. How does the act of sketching, often a private exercise, contribute to the public construction of female beauty? Editor: So, the sketch itself is less important than what it represents in the broader context? Curator: Exactly. In 18th-century France, artists like Fragonard were instrumental in defining ideals of femininity. This sketch, though minimal, participates in that cultural project. What do you make of that? Editor: It's interesting to think about a simple sketch having such a significant cultural role. I'll look at preliminary works differently from now on.