Young Girl Reading by Jean-Honoré Fragonard (Interpretation and Analysis)

Young Girl Reading
Source: National Gallery of Art

Jean-Honoré Fragonard is perhaps the most famous painter of the Rococo movement, a highly elaborate and decorative style that is most commonly associated with eighteenth century aristocrats. In fact, it is fair to say that his work is almost synonymous with the artistic movement it represents.

I like to think of Rococo as a stereotypical wedding cake: covered in flowers and puffs and frills. The Rococo movement is an outgrowth of the Baroque movement, and it retains the sense of energy and dynamism characteristic of Baroque art. However, where Baroque art tends to be dark, heavy, and dramatic, Rococo art tends to be light and breezy; it’s full of pastel colors and the subject matter tends to revolve around romantic love, youth, and playfulness.

Like other painters of this period, Fragonard is well-known for his extremely secular, often erotic paintings that depict the carefree lives of France’s upper classes. However, there is another side to Fragonard’s work. For example, his series of fantasy figures betrays the artist’s bent towards experimentation.

Young Girl Reading is one piece of this famous series, which the National Gallery of Art Describes as “several rapidly executed, brightly colored paintings of lavishly costumed individuals...created within the competitive atmosphere of the Parisian art world, these works were influenced by a range of events, artworks, and visitors to his studio. Shaped by artistic imagination, these paintings pushed the boundaries of accepted figure painting in the 18th century.”

Young Girl Reading is perhaps the most original and famous of the fantasy figures. It depicts a young woman in a lemon yellow dress reading from a small book—seemingly the perfect example of the eighteenth century feminine virtue. The model for the painting was probably Fragonard’s daughter, Rosalie, who was one of his favorite subjects.

Aside from its obvious beauty and charm, the piece features loose, painterly brushstrokes that almost hint at the coming Impressionist movement. Fragonard’s use of color in this painting is also extraordinary. The painting is executed in a warm, rosy palette of pinks, purples, and yellows. The combination produces an aura of happiness and domestic tranquility that pervades the piece.

Disclaimer: I’m not an art historian or an expert on this topic. The above is my opinion, based on my interpretation of my foreknowledge of art and history. If I’ve done any additional research, I’ll note it above.