Flirtation 1886

Paul-Albert Besnard created this etching, called ‘Flirtation,’ sometime around the turn of the 20th century. It presents a scene of intimate interaction between a man and woman in what appears to be an interior setting. In fin-de-siècle France, depictions of courtship rituals were a popular subject in art, reflecting shifting social mores and gender dynamics. As a member of the Société Nationale des Beaux-Arts, Besnard would have exhibited this work in venues that catered to the tastes of the bourgeoisie, a class that was both fascinated and anxious about changing attitudes towards love and marriage. The visual codes here – the woman’s averted gaze, the man’s proximity – suggest a moment of delicate negotiation, loaded with cultural significance. To truly understand this image, we might consult etiquette manuals, fashion plates, and popular literature of the period. These resources can help us interpret the subtle cues embedded in the artwork and appreciate its commentary on the social structures of its time.