A Young Girl Reading
Historical Context
Fragonard's A Young Girl Reading from around 1770, in the National Gallery of Art, is one of his most celebrated paintings—a single figure absorbed in her book, rendered with breathtaking speed and confidence. The painting belongs to his series of figures de fantaisie, portraits created in about an hour each that demonstrate his extraordinary facility. The warm, golden light and the sitter's complete absorption create an image of intellectual pleasure that transcends the frivolous reputation of Rococo art.
Technical Analysis
Fragonard's bravura brushwork is at its most spectacular—the yellow dress is rendered in broad, sweeping strokes of remarkable confidence and economy. The warm palette and the soft, diffused lighting create an intimate atmosphere of absorbed concentration.
