Madame Favart 

Maurice Quentin de la Tour made this portrait of Madame Favart with pastels, a medium uniquely suited to capturing the essence of 18th-century aristocratic life. Pastels are pure pigment, ground and formed into sticks. The artist applies them directly to the paper, building up layers of color with a feathery touch. Look closely, and you can see the individual strokes, each one a decision, a fleeting moment of observation. The texture of the paper itself becomes part of the image, adding depth and luminosity. La Tour was a master of this technique, able to capture not just the likeness of his sitters, but their very character. His work embodies a tension: luxury and labor, spontaneity and control. In the end, this portrait transcends mere representation, and becomes a testament to the power of skillful making. It invites us to consider how materials and techniques shape our understanding of art and society.