Rococo Rocks and Shells

Deriving from the word rocaille (the French word for rock or pebble), the Rococo art style was loud and luxurious. the The painting of A Young Girl Reading is a type of reference to a style that is similar to fantasy with a regal and whimsical flare. Pastel colors mix with the whites catch the eye with a theatrical excitement. The yin and yang of the intimidation of the style with the peacefulness of the girl in her reading chair causes mixed interest of emotions in the painting, especially knowing that the style was later deemed not serious enough by philosophers who wanted neutral colors and minimalized styles.

I enjoyed coloring this painting with my own colors in the book of famous paintings that I own. The pinks and yellows look like a bouquet of flowers that are fluffy and light. The painting makes you wonder if she is indulging in a serious philosophy or as silly as a children's book. She is so classy and elegant amidst the colors that are many times deemed as silly cotton candy carnival colors, but Rococo has a way of making them look regal with chandeliers and beautiful tea cups.

Many times in an elegant setting we are told wearing black is what is fanciest, but color (or the absense of) can look just as rich. It is wonderful how the French showed us that this could be done only to later be stepped on by the Neoclassical Era. Coloring Rococo pieces are lovely because of how many of them show the leisure of reading, swinging, or stopping to smell the flowers. It makes you want to plant a garden with a swing in your backyard and enjoy the birds chirping behind you to then stop and drink a cup of warm tea from your tea set. Then to later go powder your nose to get ready to sit in the box for an opera in a giant dress that you arrive fashionably late in.

This art style was a way for not just the elite to have elaborate designs such as this. Private homes were then focused on to be decorated. It focused on love and entertainment that others wanted for themselves instead of just the aristocrat that could delve into these pass times for enjoying life. The Baroque period before it set up the way into the dramatic of emotion in art pieces. The pieces were becoming more irregular instead of exact imitations of real life like the renaissance period. It was a time that really set the stage for the next period after the neoclassical, which was romanticism, coming to the time of the French Revolution.

This societal change of many people being able to enjoy leisure started a rise to a political movement. Art many times shows the minds of those within the time period. They wanted their freedom and equality. I believe we have this era to thank for feminine embroidery and lace. Every lady was like a fancy princess during this time period where they did everything with style. Even men's suits were just as elaborate as the ladies. There was no imbalance of who got to be more fancy. I enjoy how everyone in that time period had a feminine way about them where the pastels were bright, heels were on clicking, and suits were packed on with elements of embroidery and lace. There they all went, adding their gloves and high statues walking canes of poise. They were all ready to feel just as important as any other man in the room they passed by.