Art and Satire: Fragonard's The Swing

Fragonard is one of the important French artists during Rococco period. He painted the satires that expressed either nobles' or peasants' pleasure- seeking lives. He usually painted women in his art pieces. One of his examples is The Swing (1766).

In The Swing, there are one woman on a swing, one young noble (some critics said this noble is the Baron who asked Fragonard to draw this painting) on left side and old husband (who supposed to be a bishop but Fragonard changed bishop into old husband so that Catholic Church might not critisize his painting). A woman is the first one to be captured by viewers' eyes. Her rosy dress became pop-up because of dark green woods. Sunlights came down from dark woods and shone as a spot light at woman on swing. Behind her, the old husband barely is shown in shadow place. In fron of her, the Baron look at a furtive glance under woman's dress. However because of bushes, the old husband did not know anything about his wife's affair.

Woman expressed her beauty and youth by wearing courtly dress and having big eyes and rosy cheeks - this is perfect ideal woman during Rococco period. Woman on the swing already knows the Baron by giving a look.

There are many symbols in this painting. First, woman's flying shoe can be represent as her lost fidelity. The Baron took a glance at her streching leg which can be interpreted as sexual relationship between woman and the Baron. On the left side, a statue of Cupid made jesture to be quiet (quietness is one of virtues of affair). Cupid's action proved that their relationship is affair.

Fragonard's The Swing frankly expressed sophisticated innocence and not being high- class but rather corrupt.

by Stephanie M. Park