At Least Be Discreet! 1789

Curator: Well, hello there. Isn’t this just delicious? It feels like peering through a keyhole! The etching is called "At Least Be Discreet!" by Augustin de Saint-Aubin, made in 1789. It’s part of the collection at the Minneapolis Institute of Art. Editor: Discretion seems to be failing her spectacularly! It's such a flirtatious, whispery image. She's practically falling out of her gown! There's a mischievous energy to it, like we’ve stumbled upon a scandalous secret. Curator: Saint-Aubin really captured a quintessential Rococo moment, didn't he? Consider the late 1780s – the pre-Revolutionary French elite clinging to their opulent lifestyles. This image, meant for wider distribution, gently mocks those indulgences even as it partakes of their aesthetic allure. Editor: Yes, it's the frills, the flowers, the come-hither expression – it all screams pre-revolution excess! And yet, I feel a pang of sympathy for her too. Isn't that what good satire does? The shushing gesture, she wants to keep a secret! Like she knows all that finery, the whispered secrets can all be gone soon, taken by the revolution! Curator: Absolutely! The print, which would have been disseminated among a literate, fairly affluent audience, functions almost as a warning masked as titillation. There’s an inherent critique built into the image itself, subtly questioning the very society that consumes it. Saint-Aubin wasn't just documenting; he was participating in a visual dialogue about morality, social conduct, and the fragility of the aristocracy. Editor: It's the double standard, isn't it? She has a portrait of Venus at the bottom. The whole Rococo period loves this double standard of saying one thing, and being the opposite! The exquisite detail really amplifies the drama too – it's not just about the narrative; it's the textures, the light, everything feels meticulously calculated to maximize impact! Curator: A society that revels in its appearances, constantly staging and curating them for public consumption. Editor: It does feel like peering through a looking glass—into a vanished world. A fascinating little window on a pivotal time! Curator: Indeed! It serves as a powerful reminder that art is so often deeply entangled with the social and political currents of its time, reflecting not just beauty but also anxieties, aspirations, and undercurrents.