Why it matters
A man and a woman are entwined in a bedroom as he reaches for the bolt on the door. It has been read both as lovers embracing and as a scene of rape. It is one of Fragonard's most famous paintings.
Did you know?
- It was painted in 1777.
- Its French title is Le Verrou.
- It is a symbol of the libertine spirit of the 18th century.
Based on the Wikipedia article The Bolt (Fragonard) (CC BY-SA 4.0).
