Boucher's Daughter, Jeanne Elisabeth Victoire Deshays 1769

Here we see a tapestry of François Boucher’s daughter, Jeanne Elisabeth Victoire Deshays. Boucher, a leading painter of the French Rococo style, created this intimate portrait of his daughter, sometime in the mid-18th century. This piece exists within a society deeply stratified by gender and class. Jeanne's delicate features and fashionable attire reflect the values placed on women of the aristocracy, where beauty and virtue were markers of status. Boucher, as a court artist, was complicit in perpetuating these ideals. However, a father’s loving gaze complicates any reading of mere representation. The tapestry form, traditionally a domestic craft, further emphasizes the gendered nature of artistic production at this time. Consider the labor involved in creating such a detailed image, and the skill required to translate Boucher's original painting into this medium. This brings an emotional and personal dimension to the artwork. It challenges us to consider the societal forces that shaped Jeanne's life. What was it like to be an aristocratic woman in 18th century France? What expectations and limitations did she face?