Comparing Little Feet 

Curator: Welcome. We're standing before a captivating genre painting called "Comparing Little Feet." Though the precise date of its creation is unknown, the artist behind it is Louis Léopold Boilly. Boilly, often celebrated for his acute observations of Parisian life, presents us with a rather intimate scene. Editor: My goodness, talk about being caught in the act. It feels like we’ve stumbled upon a private moment. All hushed tones and averted eyes–even me! There's almost a mischievous glint in the brushstrokes themselves. It is exciting! Curator: Absolutely. What’s fascinating is how Boilly positions this seemingly frivolous act—comparing feet—within a broader societal context. These weren’t just playful moments, they subtly played into the era’s obsession with beauty standards and class distinctions. Editor: You know, at first glance, the feet are literally what you look at! But the longer I linger, I am curious. Who's peeking out from behind the doorway? Is that the suitor for one of these ladies? A dressmaker trying to take note of hemlines? So many possibilities swirl around one painting, you know? Curator: Indeed! That voyeuristic figure peering in adds another layer of intrigue. Boilly was known for his skillful rendering of textures, especially the fabrics. See how the light drapes across the women's gowns. They're nearly translucent. Editor: The luminosity is striking, almost dreamlike, despite the potential… awkardness, you might say! Look at the way the light highlights their exposed skin—a definite emphasis on feminine ideals and a touch of what society deemed, proper back then. Curator: The detail is particularly interesting if you consider the socio-political landscape during that period, with discussions on the role of women circulating. A lot of Boilly’s success in appealing to buyers comes from mirroring that discussion and societal fascination with the role of femininity, domesticity and even eroticism, albeit rather lightly so, I’d say! Editor: True, yes. It all gets a bit tricky with these old works; it’s interesting trying to decode where they fit within social mores then…versus today. Like you say, what might have been accepted then might seem strange or downright appalling now! What has lingered and persisted, and what’s been rightfully left in the past! Fascinating stuff! Curator: It truly is. Boilly offers us a glimpse into the 18th-century French world, revealing a blend of flirtation, fashion, and, perhaps, social satire. Editor: I agree completely, yes! Every time I look at his painting I get the sense of a society teetering between elaborate artifice and something truly substantial, that maybe those two can co-exist! It is truly the painter's eye and hand which help us explore this fascinating dichotomy!