['Study for Lélie unmasking Mascarille', 'Design for the illustration of "L\'Etourdi\'\' from the 1734 edition of Molière\'s works (vol. I, p. 3)'] 1713 - 1734

Curator: Let’s turn our attention now to “Study for Lélie unmasking Mascarille,” a drawing by François Boucher. It's a preparatory sketch, believed to date from between 1713 and 1734. Editor: Ooh, instantly, there’s something charmingly off-the-cuff about it. Like we’ve stumbled into the artist’s personal sketchbook. It's light and breezy. Curator: Precisely. Boucher created this pen and ink drawing on toned paper as a study for an illustration of Molière’s "L’Étourdi", that would appear in the 1734 edition of the playwright's works. Note how Boucher employs a rather Baroque sensibility despite its intended printed dissemination. Editor: Absolutely. You can see that fluidity in the sketched lines defining the figure’s clothing. The use of sepia ink adds warmth. And there’s almost a comedic, stage-like quality to the figures gesture—a theatrical flourish in a drawing. Curator: The visible pentimenti and corrections reveal the artist's process, giving us insights into his compositional methodology. One could consider the implied psychological depth, if ever so fleeting. Editor: It's so intriguing, almost like looking at an actor in rehearsals, before the final performance. There's something vulnerable in those visible alterations; it’s more than just Baroque charm; it’s alive, in the moment. Curator: Considering Boucher's wider oeuvre, this study highlights a dialogue between artistic experimentation and practical application. The dynamism and compositional decisions here, certainly, contributed to the eventual book illustration, yet here the piece also manages to stand alone. Editor: And for me, this raw spontaneity, the glimpse into an artist's creative musings makes it even more special than a highly finished painting. There is just something delightful about seeing a work in progress, like the wizard is showing off their bag of tricks, maybe a little inadvertently. Curator: A rather fitting insight, considering this work showcases the very beginnings of bringing a comedic scene to life. Editor: Yes! It's lovely to consider how much storytelling can happen in what appears at first glance to be just a simple drawing. It invites the imagination to finish the story and consider this character within it.