The Painter's Touch: Boucher, Chardin, Fragonard

Ewa Lajer-Burcharth's book "The Painters Touch" offers a radical reinterpretation of three paradigmatic French painters of the eighteenth century, François Boucher, Jean-Siméon Chardin, and Jean-Honoré Fragonard, by examining their strategic investment in materiality and the distinct contribution of painting to the culture of the Enlightenment. She traces how their works contributed to the formation of artistic identity and repositions them in the artistic culture of their time, focusing on the question of experience and how painting as a medium contributed to the Enlightenments discourse on the self.

Format: Paperback / softback
Length: 312 pages
Publication date: 27 September 2022
Publisher: Princeton University Press

The Painters Touch: A Radical Reinterpretation of Eighteenth-Century French Art

In eighteenth-century France, a new perspective emerged on the development of artistic modernity, challenging the traditional understanding of paintings as mere images. Ewa Lajer-Burcharth's book, The Painters Touch, delves into this transformative inquiry, offering a profound reinterpretation of three pivotal French painters: François Boucher, Jean-Siméon Chardin, and Jean-Honoré Fragonard. Through meticulous close readings of their works, Lajer-Burcharth unveils a fresh perspective on their artistic practices, shedding light on the profound implications of their strategic investment in materiality.

By exploring the concept of touch, Lajer-Burcharth uncovers the unique contributions of these painters to the culture of the Enlightenment. She traces how their distinct artistic logics, such as Boucher's emphasis on surface, Chardin's exploration of deep materiality, and Fragonard's dynamic morphological structure, shaped their artistic identities. Through the lens of touch, Lajer-Burcharth re-contextualizes these painters within their historical milieu, shifting attention from institutions like the academy and the Salon to the realms of the market, the medium, and the body.

In her analysis, Lajer-Burcharth delves into the commercial tactics of Boucher, the interiorized craft of Chardin, and the materialization of eros in Fragonard's work. She emphasizes the question of experience, both that of the painters and the people they represent, demonstrating how painting as a medium played a significant role in the Enlightenment's discourse on the self in both individual and social contexts.

By examining the visual language of paintings through brushstrokes, texture, and paint, Lajer-Burcharth reveals the profound messages concealed within these works. She challenges us to reevaluate our perception of art, urging us to appreciate the materiality and sensory aspects of paintings as essential components of their meaning. The Painters Touch offers a groundbreaking exploration of the eighteenth-century French artistic landscape, providing a fresh perspective on the development of artistic modernity and the enduring influence of these painters on the art world.

Weight: 1364g
Dimension: 225 x 296 x 22 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9780691238319