Jean Honoré Fragonard. La Carta, o la conversación en español. 1773-1783. Francia. Pincel y tinta marrón y pincel y lavado de marrón, con grafito, en marfil Jean-Honoré Fragonard de papel establecido, muy personal, estilo poderoso surgido después de períodos de estudio con François Boucher y Jean-Siméon Chardin, y cinco años en la Academia de Francia en Roma. Titulado La Carta, o la conversación en español (porque el hombre del traje elegante con un doblete de mangas largas y anchas, cuello tieso ruff-un traje que se encontraba "en español"), este modo animado muestra la hoja con ingenio y burlas ambigui

Jean Honoré Fragonard. The Letter, or The Spanish Conversation. 1773–1783. France. Brush and brown ink and brush and brown wash, with graphite, on ivory laid paper Jean-Honoré Fragonard’s highly personal, powerful style emerged after periods of study with both François Boucher and Jean-Siméon Chardin, and over five years at the Académie de France in Rome. Entitled The Letter, or The Spanish Conversation (because of the man’s elegant attire—with a doublet of full sleeves and a wide, stiff neck ruff—a costume that was “in the Spanish mode”), this lively sheet depicts with wit and teasing ambiguity an intimate incident in an upper-class drawing room. The artist’s rapid, virtuoso draftsmanship evokes forms with what seems like a minimum of effort, and his powerful handling of brush and wash reflects his ability to capture the effects of light. The interplay between the drawing’s broad, free underdrawing and its shimmering veils of wash lend this work its charm and vivacity. The woman in this drawing is said to be Fragonard’s sister-in-law, the artist Marguerite Gérard.