Jeune fille debout, la main droite sur l’oreille 

Jean-Baptiste Greuze made this red chalk drawing, "Young Girl Standing, Right Hand on Her Ear," in eighteenth-century France, a period defined by rigid social hierarchies. Greuze, celebrated for his sentimental genre scenes, often depicted the lives of ordinary people. This drawing, though seemingly simple, encapsulates the era's complex social dynamics. The girl's posture and dress suggest a working-class background, yet her delicate features and graceful pose hint at an aspiration towards refinement. During this time, the French Academy heavily influenced artistic production, dictating standards of taste and subject matter. Greuze, while initially embraced by the Academy, later clashed with its conservative ideals, challenging the established norms with his focus on emotional narratives and relatable characters. Historians often consult period costume and social etiquette guides to understand the drawing's nuances. Such research allows us to appreciate how Greuze's work both reflected and questioned the social structures of his time.