Angelica Is Exposed to the Orc c. 1780s

Jean-Honoré Fragonard created "Angelica Is Exposed to the Orc" using swift strokes of ink and wash. Note how the composition is structured around dynamic diagonals and swirling forms, creating a sense of unease and drama. The figures are rendered with energetic lines, emphasizing movement and emotional intensity. Fragonard's sketch destabilizes established meanings through its exploration of terror and vulnerability. The Orc, a monstrous sea creature, looms threateningly over Angelica, a nude, vulnerable figure who is chained to a rock. Above this scene, we see a figure riding what appears to be a winged horse, which could be an allusion to the hero Roger, who later saves Angelica. Fragonard uses light and shadow to create a dramatic contrast, highlighting the vulnerability of Angelica against the monstrous Orc, challenging traditional notions of beauty and heroism. The dramatic lighting and dynamic composition function not just aesthetically, but also as part of a larger cultural discourse about power, desire, and the spectacle of violence. The use of wash creates depth, which serves to heighten the artwork’s emotional impact and thematic complexity.