FAH 245 Paper Assignment #1 Song Yang 996808085 Oct. 2nd, 2012 Upon first glance, Tissots The Shop Girl appears to depict an ordinary scene in Europe. However, a deeper examination of the work reveals hidden motifs. Through his use of formal elements and colour, Tissot imbues The Shop Girl with an underlying theme of lust and sexual desire. Formally, one immediately notices three characters in the painting: two shopkeepers and a man peering through the window. Although the shopkeepers are modestly clothed, Tissot draws our attention to the shape of the feminine body through both the figure of the girl opening the door, as well as the outline of the dress on display in the window. Furthermore, the mannequin is superimposed over the man outside the window such that the three subjects are all portrayed with female bodies. Finally, the breasts of female on the left are revealed and emphasized by her raised arms. These formal elements all highlight the seductive allure of the feminine figure. It is also worthwhile to examine the way formal elements within the painting interact with each other. The man looking through the window may not be examining the shops goods, but rather the bosom of the shopkeeper to the left. Tissot also invites the viewer to follow the pink ribbons trail as it falls from the table and ends in the shape of a heart. These subtler interactions accentuate the underlying theme of sexual desire in The Shop Girl. Tissot utilizes an array of colours and hues in The Shop Girl. The shop itself, as well as the furniture within, are depicted using warm shades of brown, and give a sense of comfort to the observer. The exterior feels cooler and less inviting in comparison. Aside from brown, another predominant colour used is pink, a motif traditionally associated with love and lust. Pink is selected as the colour of the shop girls package, and is contrasted against her dark clothing. The ribbon placed on the table is pink as well, and is the single brightest object inside the shop. Tissot first invites the viewer to place their attention within the shop, and then draws the viewer to the pink ribbon and package, which symbolize lust. By dissecting the use of colour and formal elements in The Shop Girl, it is evident that Tissot implies an underlying theme of lust and sexual desire.