Tête à Tête 1716

Claude Simpol rendered this drawing in pen and gray ink and wash, with white gouache in about 1715. The scene depicts a man smoking a pipe next to a woman, and the title, Tête à Tête, suggests an intimate conversation. The social rituals of the 18th century in France often dictated interactions between men and women of the upper class. Etiquette demanded certain forms of address, posture and dress. But here, the artist gives us an alternative narrative. These figures recline informally in nature, without the strict formality of court life. The scene is charged with sexual tension - both figures are well-dressed and attractive. However, the man turns his back to the woman, the smoke from his pipe obstructing our clear view of her. The artist leaves us to wonder about the state of their relationship. Is this the prelude to a romantic encounter? Or are they caught in the discomfort of failed expectations?