The Lock
Historical Context
Fragonard's The Lock (Le Verrou) from 1777, in the Louvre, is one of the most erotically charged paintings of the eighteenth century, depicting a man bolting a door while embracing a woman whose resistance appears theatrical rather than genuine. The painting's frank sensuality caused a sensation and became one of the most widely reproduced images of the Rococo period. The composition's dynamic diagonal and the billowing red drapery create a scene of passionate urgency that transcends the decorative conventions of galant painting.
Technical Analysis
The dramatic diagonal composition sweeps from the bolt at upper right to the tumbled apple and flowers at lower left. Fragonard's bold brushwork renders the tangled fabrics and flesh with an energy and immediacy that matches the scene's passionate subject.
