The Bolt 1778

Editor: Here we have Fragonard’s “The Bolt” from 1778, an oil painting currently housed in the Louvre. I find it incredibly theatrical; it almost feels like a still from a play. What do you see in this piece? Curator: The Bolt is so much more than the simple bedroom scene it appears to be at first glance. Think about the physical properties of oil paint. How it allows Fragonard to build layer upon layer, obscuring and revealing. Consider how those layers mirror the secrets and power dynamics at play. Editor: Power dynamics? I initially saw it as a mutual, passionate embrace. Curator: Look closer. The male figure is forceful, barring the door. This act of confinement isn’t just about romance; it speaks to a broader societal constraint placed on women in the 18th century. And see that discarded fruit on the bedside table? A visual reminder of earthly desires, excess and indulgence as commodities within aristocratic circles. Editor: So, the very *stuff* of the painting, the oil and its application, are connected to these wider themes of social structure and commodity exchange. It makes you wonder what kind of brushes and pigments would have been available and affordable in those times. Curator: Precisely. Even the choice of such intimate setting within a luxurious interior underscores class privilege and the use of private spaces for the furthering of certain political interests. Consider the work that goes into maintaining this setting and consider who performed that labor and what their position would be to this encounter. Editor: It certainly throws a different light on Fragonard's Rococo style. Thanks! Curator: It certainly challenges the notion of mere visual delight and provokes much-needed conversations around art production!