In Jean-Honoré Fragonard’s “Young Girl Reading,” a book can’t be judged by its cover. X-rays have disclosed that the canvas of this work initially contained an image of a man Fragonard painted over with this epitomization of 18th-century France. Reading was a common theme for painters of this era, and this piece reflects the popularity of the time's lightweight, portable books. The serenity of the work belies the powerful geometric framework of the girl’s form that imparts it with strength and solidity. Fragonard (1732 – 1806) expertly conveyed texture with different brushstrokes: thick strokes comprise the girl’s dress, her collar is edged with the brush handle, and the pillows are freely sketched.

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