Karikatuur van een jongeman die krullen zet bij een jonge vrouw 1824

Curator: Looking at this pencil drawing from 1824 by Louis Léopold Boilly titled “Karikatuur van een jongeman die krullen zet bij een jonge vrouw”-- or, "Caricature of a young man curling a young woman’s hair" for those of us who aren’t fluent-- what jumps out at you? Editor: The woman's face is the first thing that grabs me. There’s a real vulnerability there, like she's gritting her teeth, anticipating pain. It's a delicate operation rendered with surprising drama! Curator: Absolutely, Boilly captures that tension perfectly. The social history here is interesting too. Hairdressing was a very intimate act, full of social signaling. Think about the power dynamics at play. Boilly cleverly subverts our expectations with this exaggerated scene. Editor: A caricature, after all! So, is the 'power dynamic' a sly commentary? I mean, he’s got these intense eyes and he's looming over her. The implication is the pursuit of beauty is potentially agonizing or even slightly comical? Curator: I believe so. The art market was beginning to value more "authentic" and 'realistic' representation during the late 18th and early 19th centuries, especially within portraiture. Boilly played on expectations of elegance to gain favor with a rising bourgeois class. His subjects allowed ordinary viewers to be amused and, thus, in-the-know of such elitist follies. Editor: The soft shading really contrasts with the crisp lines around their faces. Is that a typical feature for the time, technically? Curator: Actually, Boilly had a bit of a reputation for precise detail. Romanticism emphasized individual emotion and often leaned into drama. He combined a near photorealist drawing style with popular Realist critique, but still retained those exaggerated caricatured elements. The pencil medium also adds to that intimate feel, don’t you think? It’s a medium so directly tied to touch. Editor: Very good point! Thinking of that vulnerability we first talked about...it feels as close and immediate as an image done in pencil can get. This piece is definitely more than a funny drawing about a beauty procedure, isn't it? Curator: Exactly. And, through his humor, Boilly lets us glimpse into the evolving standards of beauty of 19th-century Parisian life. Editor: Leaving me grateful I don't have to go to such lengths for a curl! Curator: Precisely!