Les Deux Baisers (The Two Kisses) 1786

Editor: This is “Les Deux Baisers” by Louis Philibert Debucourt, from 1786. It's a print, and the scene is wonderfully busy, capturing a moment of supposed intimacy disrupted by an… admirer? I’m curious about the dynamic at play here. How do you interpret this work? Curator: It's fascinating to view Debucourt’s print through the lens of social critique. We see not just a snapshot of affection, but an engagement with the public consumption of images and, dare I say, scandal. Consider the period—the late 18th century in France was obsessed with appearances, fashion, and elaborate social rituals. The presence of the painter and the painting within the print emphasizes the role of art in not only mirroring but constructing and circulating such images and ideas. Is it private, really, when captured on canvas? Editor: That's a good point. The painting-within-the-painting makes you wonder about constructed realities and public perception of private moments. What's with all the wigs? Curator: The elaborate hairstyles are not mere decoration. These high hairstyles speak to status, wealth, and engagement with current fashions but also raise the stakes within the power dynamics displayed. How might we analyze the gendering implied, where men invade, and women watch passively? Does that match a trope we know? Editor: Interesting. It's almost as though everyone is performing. Thank you. This definitely changes how I see it; it is less a romantic image and more of a comment on social performance, isn't it? Curator: Precisely! And considering that these prints were widely circulated and consumed by the public, the art itself participates in this very same cycle of spectacle and social commentary. I've learned as well how complex that social world must have been.