Staand meisje op de rug gezien 1728

Francois Boucher made this print, titled 'Standing Girl Seen From the Back,' using etching. Born in Paris during the height of the Rococo period, Boucher became known for his idyllic and often eroticized depictions of pastoral life. This particular image presents us with a young woman, likely of the French aristocracy, fashionably dressed. Yet, her averted gaze complicates the traditional dynamics of portraiture. By turning her back to the viewer, she resists the conventional objectification often found in images of women from this era. The woman's averted gaze allows us to ponder the complexities of identity and representation. Boucher’s work reflects a society steeped in rigid social hierarchies. While seemingly a simple depiction of a woman, the print subtly questions and complicates the power dynamics inherent in portraiture and representation.