Couple by a Fountain c. late 18th century

Editor: This is "Couple by a Fountain," a late 18th-century watercolor and drawing by Hubert Robert. It depicts a scene of leisure with a woman reclining as a child playfully diverts water from a fountain. I’m curious to know, what story do you think this image is trying to tell? Curator: I wouldn't be too concerned with a specific 'story'. Rather, I consider the image as evidence of the Rococo era's preoccupation with leisurely pursuits. Observe how the artist's handling of watercolor gives the entire scene a delicate, almost ephemeral quality, yet these are affluent people who are afforded time to sit about as laborers carry jugs. What does this visual economy signify for you? Editor: It makes me think about the privilege required to engage in such idleness. It contrasts with, say, the very real work of a servant carrying jugs of water, or of the artist creating this pretty fantasy. I hadn't thought about it like that. Curator: Exactly. We must not only celebrate this image as something aesthetically pleasing but investigate the power dynamics implicit in Robert's artistic project. By depicting leisurely fantasies and painting romantic scenes, it also raises questions regarding artistic labor, its intended consumer and cultural production. Where might these materials have come from? How might an object like this, itself seemingly light and decorative, engage with the burgeoning ideas around commerce, social stratification, and leisure of the period? Editor: So, rather than seeing a simple scene of people enjoying themselves, we should also examine the broader implications regarding the production of this artwork. Curator: Precisely. This watercolor then becomes a window into understanding 18th-century class structure. And don’t you think these observations offer a far more complete perspective on Robert's intentions?