Someday soon I'll make you mine...

One of my absolute favorite periods of art is Rococo, which became a significant movement during the reign of Louis XV (1710-1774) and reached its peak during the reign of Louis XVI and Marie Antoinette. A specific genre known as fete galante embodied the ideals of the court, with frivolity, eroticism, and ornateness as its prodominate themes. One of my favorite fete galante paintings is "The Swing," painted by Jean - Honore Fragonard.



[Fragonard, The Swing, 1767,Wallace Collection, London]


A female contemporary of his was Elizabeth-Louise Vigee-LeBrun. She painted the recognizable "Marie Antoinette and Her Children" found at Versailles.



[Vigee-LeBrun, Marie Antoinette and Her Children, 1787, Musee National du Chateau de Versailles]


This painting is referenced in one of my absolute favorite movies, Sofia Coppola's Marie Antoinette. Favorite clip:



Adorable idea, using "I Want Candy." Love the juxtaposition of prim and proper with the punkish modernity of Bow Wow Wow, known for their scandalous album cover.



When the album was released it made waves because the nude lead singer was only 13 or 14 at the time. It references my absolute favorite artwork:





[Manet,Le Dejeuner Sur l'Herbe, 1863, Musee du Louvre]


Manet's painting was also controversial when it was first seen, not only because of the naked females, but because of the unfinished, impressionistic style seen in the background. He provided a completely finished still life at the front of the composition to further stick it to the Academy and society at the time. Hence, the birth of Impressionism.