Fallen Huntsman 1731 - 1741

Francois Boucher made this red chalk drawing, Fallen Huntsman, sometime in the 18th century. The image portrays a nude male figure reclining, seemingly in a moment of rest or perhaps defeat. Boucher was a leading painter in the Rococo style, a movement associated with the court of Louis XV in France. Rococo art is known for its lighthearted and sensual themes, often depicting scenes of aristocratic leisure and romance. This sketch is interesting because it's not depicting an aristocrat, but a huntsman. Hunting was a pastime of the aristocracy, and huntsmen were employed to enable it. But Boucher's huntsman isn't active, he's relaxing in the same pose as an aristocrat. Art historians often look at drawings like this to understand the social function of art. By examining Boucher's other works, the patronage system, and the cultural values of 18th-century France, we can better understand the politics of imagery at the time. Ultimately, the meaning of art is contingent on its social and institutional context.