Chinese jongen, zittend in een landschap c. 1731

Francois Boucher created this drawing titled 'Chinese jongen, zittend in een landschap' using pen and brown ink with brush and gray wash. The composition centers on a figure amidst a fabricated landscape. The delicate lines and tonal washes create a dreamlike quality, typical of the Rococo period. The subject, with his exotic attire, is positioned to draw the eye through the composition. This orientalising aesthetic speaks to a fascination with the ‘other’ that was fashionable in the 18th century. Boucher's choice of medium and technique enhances the sense of lightness and fantasy. The washes give depth to the scene, while the pen lines define forms with precision. The artwork functions not merely as a visual delight but as an exploration of cultural fantasy, revealing the complex relationship between art, representation, and the construction of identity in a period marked by significant cultural exchange.