The Swing, also known as The Happy Accident, is one of the best know Fragonard’s painting. It is mainly recognized due to the finesse, humor and joie de vivre of the Rococo. It is recognized as the best known art of the Rococo era.  It is distinguished from the other arts due to its ability to combine erotic licence with visionary feeling of nature (Lagerroth, Lund, & Hedling, 1997).  The Swing was created in 1767 by Jean Honore Fragonard after being offered the work by another painter namely Gabriel-Francois doyen. It is a painting of a young girl on the swing flying in the air after a push from an elderly man. On the lower side is a young man who seems to enjoy the view of the young girl’s thighs that are left open when the wind carries off the pink dress.

The painting really fits the Rococo era due to its ability to employ asymmetrical, ornate designs, lush imagery, pastel colors and playful subjects. It was distinguished from other Rococo paintings as it was a blend of the Italian Baroque and the Dutch landscape painting. The choice of colors, for instance, is one of the strengths of this work.  The underlying theme of the art is to express love and Fragonard has ensured that the choice of color is in accordance with the theme of the painting. In a shimmer of leaves and rose petals, lit up by a sparkling beam of sunshine, the girl, in a frothy dress of cream and juicy pink, rides the swing with happy (Bean, 2005). The Rococo style attempted to appeal more to the sensual rather than the intellectual side. As a result Fragonard utilized a delicate pastel color palette that would be just as at home in a cupcake shop as on canvas, with frothy creams, juicy pinks, and minty greens.

It is also worth noting that the Swing is composed in a triangular shape, with the Baron and the husband forming the base of the pyramid, and the maiden in the air at the top of the triangle, in the center of the space. This is a distinct feature common with Rococo arts. The colors are also illuminated from above and the fanciful trees form an oval frame for the action in the centre. Playful nature and inclusion of hidden details in the paintings are also significant aspects of the art (Bean, 2005). All these attributes makes it easy to understand and comprehend the literal meaning of the painting.

References

Bean, R. (2005). Image and inscription. Toronto: Gallery 44.

Lagerroth, U., Lund, H., & Hedling, E. (1997). Interart poetics. Amsterdam: Rodopi.

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