Genre painting
Sometimes termed the petit genre , or the genre scene, it was often
anecdotal
and
light-hearted
. Inspired by XVIIth-century Dutch
painting, it usually depicted
interior scenes
or scenes from everyday
life. With subjects and sizes adapted to the cosy interiors of the period, the
genre was much appreciated, especially by the bourgeoisie. History painters
like Boucher
had so few qualms about tackling this genre, which
flourished throughout the century, that it was sometimes difficult to discern
the border
between grand genre and petit genre . Thus,
despite his efforts to be admitted as a history painter,
Greuze was only
accepted by the Academy in the genre-scene category.