Pompadour at Her Toilette after 1750

Editor: Here we have François Boucher's "Pompadour at Her Toilette" at the Harvard Art Museums. It's quite intimate, this portrait, almost like a fleeting moment captured. What do you see in this piece, considering its historical context? Curator: The toilette ritual, deeply symbolic, represents not just beautification but also the construction of social persona. Consider the mirror, a potent symbol of vanity and self-reflection, but also of truth and illusion. How does Boucher use these familiar tropes to communicate Madame de Pompadour's status? Editor: So, it’s less about vanity and more about power? Curator: Precisely. Her gaze, though seemingly demure, holds a certain self-assuredness. The pastel palette and delicate brushwork serve to elevate her, almost deifying her image. This painting is more about the creation of an icon. Editor: I see it now; it’s like she's aware of her role in history. Curator: Yes, and we, as viewers, become part of that construction.