In class this week we had tried several times to accurately describe a piece from the Rococo period. I'm not sure if many people really understood what Rococo art actually looks like, so I decided to post one of the more popular paintings from this time. What you see above is The Swing, by Jean-Honore Fragonard, 1767. This painting totally epitomizes the Rococo art style because of several factors. Number one, the subject isn't very complicated at all. It shows somebody outside, demonstrating the carefree spirit of Rococo artists. The girl seems to have no care in the world as she's being pushed on the swing, she almost appears to be flattered. She flirtaciously kicks off her shoe and continues to enjoy herself. The one thing that made this painting so popular was the fact that the man pushing her is her husband, yet the man in the bushes is her secret lover. Look at the view he gets! Whoa baby!! All of the colors used by Fragonard, mainly pastels, can signify what time period this was made in. To give a good example, the clouds in the background are pastel in color, even though it's supposed to come off as dark and cloudy. The sun shines through the clouds and penetrates her elegant dress in order to make her colors stand out,... even though it's still has a light and faded color to it. Another big hint that this is Rococo art is the loose brushstrokes used.
One thing I like from this time period is how elegant everything looks. The faces on the people look like porcelain dolls because they are painted so perfectly. Laura said that the Rococo period focused on the rich people, and it shows in this portrait. The lush garden and the types of clothing clearly show the quality of life that people dreamed of or wanted to achieve. It also shows how scandalous people can be, and clearly this sells because like I said, this is one of the reasons that The Swing was popular.
I agree, the swing is the epitome of all things rococo. It is frilly, feminine, and light just like the graphic design in this period.
ReplyDeleteThis is a really ornate painting, for sure! It definitely shows off the rococo design aspect really well and it does give us a good example of what rococo was. I think the painting is really pretty and kind of fairy tale like.
ReplyDeleteI think this painting is so beautiful. I love the use of color and atmospheric perspective. The girl makes the painting even more beautiful because she looks so elegant and her peachy-colored dress stands out against the surrounding nature. The painting reminds me of royalty because of how the woman and man are dressed.
ReplyDeleteI think that this painting is really beautiful. It's nice how it contrasts the dark and light colors and highlights the girl on the swing. I also like the suggested romance of it with the gentlemen on the ground and behind her.
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