Portrait of Joseph Bouër 1746

Jean-Étienne Liotard captured Joseph Bouër using pastels, a medium that was particularly fashionable in the 18th century for portraiture. Pastels are essentially pure pigment, bound loosely, and applied dry. This gives them an immediacy and softness quite different from oil paint, which requires mixing, layering, and a long drying time. Look closely, and you can see how Liotard built up the forms with many delicate strokes. The soft, almost hazy quality of the pastel lends itself well to capturing the luxurious textures of Bouër's clothing: the fur trim of his coat, the sheen of his silk waistcoat, and the delicate lace at his wrists. The choice of pastel as a medium also speaks to the changing social status of art during this period. It allowed for a certain informality and accessibility, moving away from the grand, imposing style of earlier court portraiture. In this way, materials and making are key to understanding the full meaning of the artwork.