What Is Analyzing The Stolen Kiss By Jean-Honoré Fragonard

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The Stolen Kiss by Jean-Honoré Fragonard (1760) is an oil on canvas painting depicting a young man attempting to steal a kiss from a young woman to her own dismay while another young woman holds her hands and watches the scene unfold. Once belonged to Bailli de Bréteuil, this painting is a great example of the Rococo style of art.
The bodies of the three figures in the painting are in correct proportion and are very naturalistic, a hierarchy of scale is not present. A sense of weight is seen in each figure; the girl getting kissed has a sense of weight in relation to the boy holding her, the boy has a sense of weight in how he leans in and on the girl for a kiss and lastly the other girl has a sense of weight in how she leans on the table. …show more content…

Themes of Rococo artwork deal with easygoing and light scenes of mythical places and courtship. Rich but delicate brushwork, lighter pastel colors and sensuous coloring are central to Rococo artwork. The Stolen Kiss by Jean-Honoré Fragonard is most definitely a piece of the Rococo period because it has many of these characteristics. The painting portrays a light scene involving love between young people of the aristocracy. Love and lust are the main themes of the painting and the artist uses delicate brushwork, lighter pastel colors, and a sensuous feel to accomplish this. Another piece that is similar to The Stolen Kiss is a piece called Pilgrimage to Cythera by Antoine Watteau (1717). In this painting, a representation of the mythical love island of Cythera is portrayed. A statue of the goddess of love is present along with scenes of courtship, mythical cupid and gorgeous nature scenes all with delicate brushwork, pastel colors and a sensuous feeling. All things central to Rococo artwork. Another oil on canvas titled The Swing by Jean-Honoré Fragonard (1767) depicts a lustful and in love man hiding in the bushes to look up the skirt of the women he loves. The woman is portrayed very light, free and in love and she swings in the air on a red velvet and gold seat with a fabulous hat, white stockings and a very flowing and free dress. This Rococo painting centers on the theme of courtship, nature and the opulence the aristocracy created for themselves. Lastly, The Progress of Love: The Meeting by Jean-Honoré Fragonard (1771-1773) is one part of a many paneled piece depicting young lovers meeting in an extremely overgrown, yet fabulous nature scene being overlooked by a statue of the mythical symbols of love- Venus and Cupid. This indulgent piece with uncontrolled nature, a love theme, delicate brushwork and sensuous coloring

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