Marie Charlotte Boissier 1746

Jean-Étienne Liotard captured Marie Charlotte Boissier with pastel on paper. The soft, diffused light lends an almost dreamlike quality to the portrait. Liotard's use of pastel creates a velvety texture, softening the contours of the face and fabric, evoking a sense of intimacy. The composition, with its focus on texture and light, invites us to consider the structural elements that define its meaning. The subject's gaze, directed slightly off-center, pulls the viewer into her space, initiating a dialogue. The delicate treatment of the dress and fur trim, with their tactile qualities, suggests a study in contrasts—softness against structure. Liotard was known for his realism and attention to detail. Here, though, the overall effect is more about the construction of an image. It is less about capturing a likeness and more about exploring the boundaries between representation and fabrication, inviting us to question the nature of portraiture itself.