Rococo in arts started to develop in the eighteenth century in Europe. It rapidly became a primary style for painting, sculpturing, and decoration in architecture. Rococo became famous in Europe, but the particular interest was in France, Germany, and Austria. It is interesting to examine the Rococo style in terms of reflection on art, motifs and characteristics, and the social and political climate which existed in the period.
The premise for emerging Rococo was the Baroque art of Louis XIV of France. The style seemed to appear heavy and cumbrous; it was why Rococo became aerial, intimate, and ethereal. The style manifested as graceful and airy; it is seen in paintings of the period. For instance, Jean-Honore Fragonard’s work ‘The Swing,’ painted in 1767-1768, demonstrates romantic motifs with the choice of gentle pastel colors (Richman-Abdou, 2018). Throughout the whole period and before the movement started fading away, paintings preserved lightness and intimate mood, depicting themes of love and youth. For instance, ‘Rinaldo and Armida’ by Francois Boucher, painted in 1734, reflects a private and playful atmosphere, using light colors (Richman-Abdou, 2018). Characteristics of the movement include the usage of natural shapes and ornaments, delicate and light forms, soft colors, and unsymmetrical motives in painting and architecture. Moreover, the socio-cultural and political climates of the period were liberal and graceful before the French Revolution of 1789. Rococo became the last flight of emotionality and recklessness for European arts before Neoclassicism emerged.
Overall, Rococo is an artistic style focused on nature, pastel colors, natural shapes, and unsymmetrical forms. The movement gave birth to multiple excellent artworks which reflect playfulness, love, and purity. The socio-cultural and political situation allowed Rococo to flourish before the French Revolution, which became tragic for the world. Rococo explored emotional and sensational perception themes and became the precursor of the new style in European arts, which was characterized by philosophical motifs and the straightness of Neoclassicism.
Reference
Richman-Abdou, K. (2018). Celebrate the elegance and exuberance of French Rococo art. My Modern Met. Web.