Coquette 1713 - 1755

Francois Boucher created this print titled ‘Coquette’, and we find it here at the Rijksmuseum. Boucher was deeply embedded in the French Rococo, and his work often reflects the social and cultural values of the French court. The print presents a satirical commentary on courtship and social interactions of the 18th century. The central female figure, presumably the ‘coquette’ of the title, stands between two male figures representing different stages of life, youth and old age. This composition can be interpreted as a commentary on the limited roles available to women in that society, where a woman’s worth was closely tied to her beauty and ability to attract male attention. The print doesn’t only depict these social interactions, but also invites us to consider how fleeting beauty and youth are, and it asks us to consider the implications for women in a society that places such a high premium on these qualities.