The Chocolate Girl

"The Chocolate Girl" a celebrated pastel painting by Swiss artist Jean-Étienne Liotard, exquisitely depicts a maid gracefully serving a cup of chocolate. Frequently acclaimed as Liotard's magnum opus, this artwork portrays a young girl carrying a tray with a delicate porcelain chocolate cup and a glass of water.

The painting's journey began in 1745 when it was acquired by Francesco Algarotti. It later became part of August III of Poland's collection. Since 1855, it has been proudly exhibited at the Gemäldegalerie Alte Meister in Dresden. Remarkably, it survived World War II, despite being temporarily relocated to Königstein Fortress by the Germans for safekeeping.

The girl in the painting, believed to be Nannerl Baldauf from Vienna, is depicted wearing a distinctive headdress and apron, which adds to the charm and authenticity of the scene. In 1862, the American Baker's Chocolate Company obtained the rights to use this captivating image for their branding.

"The Chocolate Girl" also left an indelible mark on the commercial world. Around 1900, it inspired the illustration of the "nurse" featured on Droste's cocoa tins, a design likely created by artist Jan (Johannes) Musset. This illustration became iconic, symbolizing the wholesome qualities of chocolate milk and becoming inseparably linked with the Droste brand.