The Present 1776 - 1845

Editor: So, here we have Louis Léopold Boilly's "The Present," believed to have been created sometime between 1776 and 1845, rendered with oil paint. It’s hard to ignore the tenderness of the moment, don't you think? Such lovely, quiet intimacy... What strikes you most about it? Curator: Well, isn't it a peep into the everyday sublime! Boilly’s "The Present" whispers rather than shouts, doesn't it? It reminds me that sometimes, the greatest stories lie not in grand gestures but in those shared, unspoken moments of being. The simple act of dressing one's hair, the soft light, almost stage-like… like a secret play is unfolding. I wonder, what "present" are they giving each other here – a token or presence? Editor: That's beautifully put. I hadn’t considered the title in that light – you think it hints at the gift of shared time and presence? Curator: Exactly! Boilly was playing with those ambiguities. Are we watching women getting ready for society’s gaze or for each other? It almost reads as a coded message between those in the know. See how that tiny cherub locks eyes with us? It almost wants to spill a secret. Or does it? Editor: So much hidden in plain sight. It definitely makes you consider all the layers to this "present moment". Curator: Right? It's why this image resonates still today - there's something so timeless about our desire for love and quiet grace. Thank you, this visit into domestic poetry opened me up anew. Editor: Thanks for these considerations, Curator, now it will haunt me, I am sure, but in the most lovely and enjoyable manner!