This painting is forever being trotted out in documentaries as an example of the frivolous nature of the beginning of the Rococo school of art. In reality, it’s a big fat middle finger to the Establishment – you want a courtesan? She’s not really that pretty and she smiles too much. You want fashion and frivolity? She’s nice enough dressed, I’ll grant you, but the fabrics aren’t as high quality as you’d expect in a society portrait and it’s missing some elements of crazy status. You want smutty sex and naughtiness? She’s holding what amounts to an erotica novel on the subway today: not much substance, but some outer fluff. It’s all a lot of misdirection and poofy flounce. It isn’t that naughty at all, even for its time!