Fragonard's Reflections of Protofeminism in 18th Century France

Ogorek, Charlotte

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Fragonard's Reflections of Protofeminism in 18th Century France Open Access Deposited

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Date Uploaded: 04/04/2024
Date Modified: 04/16/2024

In the mid-18th century, France entered the Rococo period, a period of enlightenment and play. As the Enlightenment spurred more liberal ideologies in French society, aristocratic women were afforded more freedoms than in previous periods, such as high education and participation in social and cultural realms such as Salons. Jean-Honoré Fragonard, known widely for his 1767 painting "The Swing", created a large body of work throughout the period often depicting female subjects in genre and allegorical scenes as well as portraiture. Often subverting the typical male gaze in his works, his paintings serve as a reflection of the period of empowerment experienced by aristocratic women in the Rococo period.

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