A Study in Jean Fragonard:

How Fragonard’s Paintings The Swing, The Blindman’s Buff and The Meeting Reflect 18^th-Century French Aristocrats’ Values about Sexuality

Karena Tu 408110431

Introduction

Literature Review

Textual Analysis

01

03

02

04

Outline

Conclusion

Rococo art

Jean Fragonard

Libertinism

The Swing, The Blindman’s Buff, and The Meeting

Introduction

01

Rococo Art, Jean Fragonard, and Libertinism

Rococo Art

• Originated in 18th century Paris
• Soft contrast of light and shadow
• Soft pastel colors
• Themes:
• Myths
• Courtship

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Swing_(Fragonard)#/media/File:Joean_Honor%C3%A9_Fragonard_-_The_Swing.jpg

Career

Criticism

Jean-Honoré Fragonard

"Instead of working for the glory and for posterity, contends himself to shine today in the boudoirs and in the closets."

Focuses on private commissions after his failure to impress the critics

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http://www.museesdegrasse.com/evenement/jean-honore-fragonard-autoportrait

Libertinism

• A reaction to
• Strict social norms
• Traditional values
• A culture expression of the individual
• Mostly about sexuality
• Live according to their own desires and passion
• Values freedom and right to pursue their happiness without interference

In Jean Fragonard’s The Swing, The Blindman’s Buff, and The Meeting, the paintings’ composition, the figure’s body language and facial expressions, and the symbols in the painting, reflect the 18th-century French aristocrats’ pursuit of pleasure and desire.

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Thesis Statement

Literature Review

02

Milam, Jennifer. “Playful Constructions and Fragonard’s

Swinging Scenes.” Eighteenth-Century Studies, vol. 33, no.

4, 2000, pp. 543-559.

• Cultural meaning of swinging in ancien regime France
• Provides freedom for behavior and physical expression
• Swinging as a symbol of eroticism
• The setting emphasizes the figure’s actions

Milam, Jennifer. “Fragonard and the Blindman’s Game:

Interpreting Representations of Blindman’s Buff.” Art

History, vol. 21, no. 1, 1998, pp. 1-25.

• Blindman’s game as a symbol of eroticism

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• Figure’s intention of pursuit of passion

Lajer-Burcharth, Ewa. “Fragonard’s Seduction: Love and

Life.” The Painter’s Touch: Boucher, Chardin, Fragonard,

Princeton University Press, 2017, pp. 212-223.

• The setting alludes to the strong desire of the couple for each other
• Maupertuis’ theory
• A correlation between nature and desire
• The statue in the painting symbolizes love and desire

Kavanagh, Thomas. “The Libertine Moment.” Yale French

Studies, no. 94, 1998, pp. 79-100.

• Explanation of libertinism
• Cultural expression of an individual
• Lifestyle is based on pursuit of desire and pleasure
• Cherishes freedom and the right to pursue pleasure

Textual Analysis

03

The Swing, The Blindman’s Buff, and The Meeting

Composition

The Swing (1767)

1. Stage-like settings

Emphasizes figure’s action

(Mialm)

2. Use of colors

Contrast between green and pink

3. Light and shadow

Highlights the swinging woman

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Swing_(Fragonard)#/media/File:Joean_Honor%C3%A9_Fragonard_-_The_Swing.jpg

Body Language & Facial Expression

1. Woman

Tossing her shoe

Gazing and smiling at the man

2. Young man

Eyes and mouth wide

Staring at the woman

​

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Swing_(Fragonard)#/media/File:Joean_Honor%C3%A9_Fragonard_-_The_Swing.jpg

Symbols

1. Swinging

Reveals one’s body

Rhythmic motion & act of

lovemaking (Milam)

2. Cupid statue
3. Toss shoe
4. Male hat

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https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Swing_(Fragonard)#/media/File:Joean_Honor%C3%A9_Fragonard_-_The_Swing.jpg

Through its meticulous construction, deliberate symbolism, and portrayal of sensuality and indulgence, The Swing serves as a captivating reflection of the aristocracy’s values about sexuality.

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Composition

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The Blindman’s Buff

(1750)

1. Pastoral elements

Setting & figure’s attire

2. Use of colors

Use of pink to highlight the girl in

the painting

http://emuseum.toledomuseum.org/objects/55186/blindmans-buff;jsessionid=222B803A2DE16EB2CC0A59A0439FE36B

Symbols

1. Blindman’s buff

Stimulates sensual experiences

Triggers imagination (Milam)

2. Putti

Represents playfulness of love

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http://emuseum.toledomuseum.org/objects/55186/blindmans-buff;jsessionid=222B803A2DE16EB2CC0A59A0439FE36B

Body Language & Facial Expression

1. Girl

Peeking from under the cloth

Moving toward the edge of

Staircase (Milam)

2. Boy and putti

Tickles the girl with straw

(Milam)

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http://emuseum.toledomuseum.org/objects/55186/blindmans-buff;jsessionid=222B803A2DE16EB2CC0A59A0439FE36B

In summary, The Blindman’s Buff exemplifies the aristocracy’s values about sexuality through its portrayal of the game’s sensual nature, the indulgence in pleasure, and the breaking of social norms.

Composition

The Meeting (1771)

1. Maupertuis’ theory

Nature reflects human desire

2. Towering trees

Evokes sense of heightened

emotions (Lajer-Burcharth)

3. Blooming flowers

Blossoming desires (Lajer-Burcharth)

https://collections.frick.org/objects/174/the-progress-of-love-the-meeting

Body Language & Facial Expression

1. Man

Body leaning forward

Kneeling on the wall

Staring into the garden

Eyes and mouth wide

2. Woman

Reaching out to the man

Staring into the garden

Eyes and mouth wide

https://collections.frick.org/objects/174/the-progress-of-love-the-meeting

Symbols

1. Venus and Eros statue

Symbol of love and desire

Dynamic pose - active pursuit of

Desire and celebration of pursuit of love and desire (Lajer-Burcharth)

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https://collections.frick.org/objects/174/the-progress-of-love-the-meeting

In conclusion, The Meeting captures the nobles’ values about sexuality through its portrayal of secretive encounters and the intense desire to pursue love.

Conclusion

04

Conclusion

In Fragonard's paintings, the meticulously crafted settings, expressive body language, and suggestive symbols converge to vividly depict the 18th-century French aristocracy's values about sexuality. Through his art, Fragonard offers us a captivating glimpse into the complex and intriguing world of 18th-century French aristocratic sexuality.

Works Cited

Kavanagh, Thomas. “The Libertine Moment.” Yale French Studies, no. 94, 1998, pp.

79-100. JSTOR, www.jstor.org/stable/3040698. Accessed 12 Nov. 2022.

Lajer-Burcharth, Ewa. The Painter’s Touch: Boucher, Chardin, Fragonard. Princeton University Press, 2017.

Milam, Jennifer. “Fragonard and the Blindman’s Game: Interpreting Representations of

Blindman’s Buff.” Art History, vol. 21, no. 1, Mar. 1998, pp. 1-25. Online Wiley

Library, doi.org/10.1111/1467-8365.00090. Accessed 12 Nov. 2022.

Milam, Jennifer. “Playful Constructions and Fragonard’s Swinging Scenes.”

Eighteenth-Century Studies, vol. 33, no. 4, 2000, pp. 543-559. JSTOR,

www.jstor.org/stable/30054162. Accessed 12 Nov. 2022.

Russo, Elena. “Sociability, Cartesianism, and Nostalgia in Libertine Discourse.”

Eighteenth-Century Studies, vol. 30, no. 4, 1997, pp. 383-400. JSTOR,

www.jstor.org/stable/30053866. Accessed 12 Nov. 2022.

Milam, Jennifer. Fragonard’s Playful Paintings: Visual Games in Rococo Art,

Jennifer Milam. Manchester University Press, 2006.

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Works Cited

Fragonard, Jean. The Swing. 1767, The Wallace Collection,

London, United Kingdom.

Fragonard, Jean. The Blindman’s Buff. 1750, Toledo Museum of

Art, Toledo, Ohio, United States.

Fragonard, Jean. The Meeting. 1771-72, The Frick Collection, New

York, United States.

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https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Swing_(Fragonard)#/media/File:Joean_Honor%C3%A9_Fragonard_-_The_Swing.jpg

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