Taste 1703 - 1770

Chez Huquier's "Taste" presents us with a scene steeped in the exoticism that captivated the 18th century, rendered on a delicate sheet. Two figures, seemingly Chinese, are set amidst lush vegetation, with a prominent pumpkin hanging overhead. This pumpkin, a symbol of abundance and perhaps even transformation, dangles precariously. The motif calls to mind the golden apples of the Hesperides, emblems of immortality, guarded with vigilance. In this context, however, the pumpkin suggests a more earthly delight, appealing directly to the sense of taste as the title suggests. Consider how such motifs migrate across cultures. What was once sacred becomes secular, and what was once a marker of status turns into an element of pure aesthetic enjoyment. Here, Huquier uses the pumpkin not merely as a still-life element but as a symbol pregnant with cultural echoes, engaging our senses and subconscious on multiple levels.