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Exploring Fragonard's Playful Masterpiece
Oct 12, 2024
Lecture on Fragonard's "The Swing"
Introduction
Location: Wallace Collection, London
Painting: "The Swing" by Fragonard
Commissioned by a member of the French royal court
Initial request: Lover on a swing pushed by a bishop
Final rendition: Older man, not a bishop, in lower right
Themes and Context
Nature of the Painting
Playful, erotic, sexually charged
Private commission for aristocracy
Fragonard’s Career
Transition from formal history paintings to private commissions
Departure from royal commissions system
Artistic Techniques and Style
Brushwork
Rapid brushwork creating energy
Visible oil paint on woman’s dress, bodice, lace
Symbolism
"Menacing Love" sculpture by Falconet on left
Cupid figures on a dolphin fountain, lower right
Rococo Style
Derived from Baroque, lacking seriousness but retaining energy
Diagonal lines creating movement, e.g., swing's rope
Elements of the Painting
Key Features
Young woman in a pink silk dress
Details: bodice, décolletage, choker, hat, pink slipper
Setting
Aristocratic garden, lush and fertile
Contrast with later Neoclassicism (e.g., paintings by David)
Historical and Cultural Context
Rococo vs. Neoclassicism
Rococo: Indulgence, luxury, frivolity
Neoclassicism: Moral, severe, plain
Criticism of Rococo leading up to French Revolution
Modern Interpretation
Nigerian artist Yinka Shonibare's 3D representation
Focus on colonialism rather than sensuality
Conclusion
"The Swing" as an expression of Rococo's luxury and indulgence
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