Art Talk with Fragonard's "The Swing"

Part two: exploring the Fragonard's artistic wonders using the 7 elements of art

We are back for part 2 of our Art Talk for this week. We’ve learned about the history of the piece in our last Art Talk and now we are focusing on the artistic qualities of the work. Fanciful, joyous, and, of course, scandalous, Fragonard’s painting is a masterpiece in its own right.

So we’re going to break down the painting into the 7 elements of art:

1. Line

2. Shape

3. Form

4. Space

5. Texture

6. Value

7. Color

To break it down even further, we are specifically going to look at them in groups: line & shape, form & space & value, color, and then texture.

Though lines are more apparent in modern art, let’s look closely to see how lines play a role in organic scenery. If you think about it, there are lines in nearly everything we see. When an artist drafts work, they use large and vague lines to detail the shapes, composition, and space.

Lines tie into the creation of a shape and only further realizes an object in a canvas. If we take the scene as a whole, the shapes and lines guide your eyes from the bottom to the top, almost inviting you to view up the skirt. From the foreground to the tops of the branches, there are wonderful and graceful s-curves. As we ease forward from the background, we can see that the objects that are the central focus of the composition, have a more defined line work and shape than the background foliage.

Now, form and shape can be mistaken for each other due to their similarities. I like to think of it like this - shape is a flat object, just lines connected with little to no breaks. Form is the combination of this with value (or shading) and space. Form is often reserved for sculptural works but it is also relevant in 2D pieces, showcasing the depth and lighting of an object. Form, space, and value all create and influence the perspective of a composition.

Fragonard fulfills these three elements beautifully and seamlessly. There is a subtle definition the separates the background from the foreground. However, it is not jarring, not empty, just perfect in capturing the vastness of an overabundant garden. Look at the way he paints soft sunlight. It is incredible to see such luminosity in his work, it is almost as if the painting glows by itself. My favorite example of form within this piece is the mistress’ dress. The amount of weight Fragonard captures just through shading. It is almost tangible like you can reach out and feel the mass of the skirt.

Color has always been my favorite element. In my own work, I tend to use unmixed colors that could be seen as borderline obnoxious. However, Fragonard’s palette always remains soft, pastel, but contrasting. One of the most important successes of this painting is the restricted color palette. To put it broadly, we can define the colors as pink, green, yellow, and blue. Due to how similar the tones of each color are, one color doesn’t overpower the other with the exception of the pink dress.

In this, Fragonard chooses to use two complementary colors, pink (a member of the red family) and green, to create an emphasis on the central figure. In order to unify the work, he tones down red’s vibrancy to create this gorgeous carnation pink, making it pop against the primarily monotone green backdrop. I’ve always loved the colors in this piece from the mossy greens, light teals, and muted yellows.

Finally, texture. Texture plays an important role in how a work is perceived. Sure, texture could be three-dimensional like a woven rug or impasto oil paint, but Fragonard employs another method which makes Rococo so entirely unique in French art. Before Rococo, Art has been smooth, well-blended, harking on distinct realism and dramatic shadows. During this movement, there is a softening of brushstrokes, a relaxation of hyper detailing and form - it is, what I consider, the earliest hint of the loose strokes of Impressionism. And this is what makes “The Swing” so remarkably modern. It’s quite unfortunate that they then reverted back to serious realism in the following movement, neoclassicism, but that might be my bias talking.

As you can see, the 7 elements of artwork together and create a balance that entirely fits the narrative being depicted. It’s fun, it’s playful, and it lacks all seriousness. Fragonard’s “The Swing” is truly an embodiment of the carefree nature of the Rococo.

And that’s Art.