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Among Fragonard's most innovative compositions are his so-called 'portraits de fantasie,' a series of half-length figures of men and women dressed in fanciful costumes and usually accompanied by attributes or emblems of a profession or activity. The figures are invariable placed behind a ledge, tabletop, or other object that defines the interior space of the picture, and many turn dramatically and are brilliantly lit. Young Girl Reading has always been considered one of the series, although it does not conform precisely to the dominant characteristics of the majority of the others.
Few artists can have enjoyed painting more than Fragonard. The way he applied his paint in broad sensuous strokes, which have a life of their own, communicates the artist's pleasure to the spectator. The plumped cushion, graceful fingers, curling bows, and the ruffle incised with the end of the brush, all reveal a masterly control of paint.
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