The Fortune Teller 1720 - 1770

François Boucher created this watercolor called ‘The Fortune Teller’. Boucher, a leading painter of the French Rococo, deftly captures a scene reflecting the social fascinations of his time. Here, we observe a woman having her fortune read, a narrative that touches on contemporary society's interest in the exotic, and the occult. Boucher's work often reflects the desires and fantasies of the French aristocracy, and in this piece, there’s a subtle interplay between the classes. The fortune teller, an outsider, holds a certain power over the young woman, who is likely of a higher social standing. The gaze of the figures suggests an engagement with themes of desire and destiny, set against a backdrop that romanticizes rural life. It is an idealized vision, a constructed fantasy that catered to the elite. Boucher seems less concerned with realism and more interested in creating visually pleasing scenes that speak to the emotional life of his patrons. Ultimately, ‘The Fortune Teller’ encapsulates the Rococo period's emphasis on beauty, pleasure, and the human experience, all while hinting at the social dynamics at play during the eighteenth century.