A book can’t be judged by its cover in Jean-Honoré Fragonard’s “Young Girl Reading.” X-rays of the work revealed another image, which Fragonard painted over with this slice of everyday life in 18th-century France. Painters of this era often depicted subjects reading, and this piece shows the lightweight, portable books popular at the time. Within the apparent calmness of the work is a strength and solidity, conveyed by the powerful geometry of the girl’s form. Fragonard (1732 – 1806) expertly created texture with a variety of thick brushstrokes, free sketching and use of the brush handle.