Neoclassism and Rococo
The artists Jean-Honore Fragonard and Jaques-Louis David both successfully embody their respective stylistic differences. Fragonard's style of painting is Rococo, which is characterized by its softness, asymmetry and curviness. Contrasting these ideals is David's style of painting, Neo-Classicism. Neo-Classicism is synonymous with strong gestures, symmetry, and solidness. Two works that best exemplify the ideals of each style of painting are Fragonard's The Swing, 1767 and David's The Death of Socrates, 1787. Although at first glance, it is easier to focus on how each work is different to the other, one can argue that they are similar in theme. Both The Swing and The Death of Socrates are works that deal with the theme of decision making. However, they differ in how each work portrays the theme of deciding. While The Swing focuses on infidelity and the process of deciding, The Death of Socrates makes it clear that loyalty to government is stronger than the ties of friendship or acquaintance. By examining use of light, form, subject matter as well as other artistic elements, one can see how each artist conveys a message by utilizing their style of art. Although both Fragonard's and David's work convey di
By paying attention to elements such as subject matter, light, form, and placement of figures, we can see how these enhance the ideals depicted by each form of art. As a result, we can understand how Neo-Classical art is an attempt to counter the values of Rococo. Rococo is a form of art directly targeted to the privileged. Because not everyone in society belongs to the aristocracy, the Neo-Classicist wanted to impose order as an alternative to the frivolous life style. As a result, we have to works of art that challenge each other's ideals. The theme of infidelity versus loyalty and how one arrives at the decision made is animated in the works of Fragonard and David. However, it is important to note that there is no right or wrong form of art, although it may seem that this was the common perception of the time. In conclusion, both works of are similar in one important aspect; they are both works of art. In Fragnorad's work, the placement of figures helps the viewer understand what is taking place in the painting. Fragonard introduces the viewer with three figures: a young man who is closest to the foreground, a young woman on a swing, and an older man placed aside in a shadow. The young man seems to be looking up the young woman's dress. The woman seems to be flirting with him. She is so carefree that she kicks her shoe off as she enjoys herself on the swing. However, the older man who is put aside in the shadow does not seem to be enjoying these events. As a result, he wants to limit the woman's enjoyment, by pulling the woman back from the swing. What is the relationship between all these figures? With the visual evidence we have gathered we can argue that the young man closest to the viewer is the potential lover of the young woman on the swing. The older man who pulls the young woman away is the husband of the young woman. In essence, he is pulling his wife away from a potential infidelity. We say potential infidelity because she is still in the process of deciding. The act of swinging represents the whole process of deciding. If the young woman were to fall off th
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Approximate Word count = 1406
Approximate Pages = 6 (250 words per page double spaced)
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