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Juneja, Monica. (2002) “Family
Fictions: Painting and the
Politics of Gender in the
Making of Republican France”
The Enlightenment, a cultural and intellectual movement that spanned the late
17th to 18th centuries, had a significant impact on various aspects of society,
including the arts. In the realm of painting in France, the Enlightenment brought
about several notable changes. Here are some key shifts that occurred in
French painting during the Enlightenment:
1. Rise of Rococo Style:
The early to mid-18th century witnessed the dominance of the
Rococo style in French painting. Rococo was characterized by its
ornate and decorative qualities, featuring light colors, asymmetry,
and elaborate ornamentation.
François Boucher and Jean-Honoré Fragonard were prominent
Rococo painters known for their sensual and lighthearted depictions
of aristocratic life.
Juneja, Monica. (2002) “Family Fictions: Painting and the Politics of Gender in the Making of Republican France” 1
, 2. Celebration of Sensibility:
Enlightenment ideas of sensibility, emotional expression, and empathy
found expression in art. Paintings began to depict scenes that evoked
sentiment and a heightened awareness of emotions.
Artists like Jean-Baptiste Greuze, known for his genre scenes and
moralizing narratives, captured the emotional and moral aspects of
everyday life.
3. Interest in Portraiture:
Portraiture gained popularity during the Enlightenment, reflecting the
increasing emphasis on individualism and the celebration of the
human subject.
Élisabeth Louise Vigée Le Brun, one of the most successful portrait
painters of the time, portrayed members of the French aristocracy
and later, revolutionary figures.
4. Return to Classicism:
Towards the latter part of the 18th century, there was a shift toward
Neoclassicism, a movement that drew inspiration from classical art and
culture. This change was partly in response to the perceived excesses
of the Rococo style.
Neoclassical artists, such as Jacques-Louis David, embraced a more
restrained and idealized aesthetic. David's works often depicted
historical and mythological themes with a moralizing undertone.
5. Emphasis on Morality and Virtue:
Enlightenment ideals, which included an emphasis on reason, virtue,
and moral education, influenced the thematic content of paintings.
Artists were often encouraged to convey moral lessons and virtuous
behavior through their work.
Moralizing genre scenes, depicting everyday life with a moral
message, became a popular genre during this period.
6. Interest in Landscape Painting:
The Enlightenment also saw an increased interest in landscape
painting. Artists explored the representation of nature, often
conveying a sense of the picturesque and the sublime.
Juneja, Monica. (2002) “Family Fictions: Painting and the Politics of Gender in the Making of Republican France” 2
Juneja, Monica. (2002) “Family
Fictions: Painting and the
Politics of Gender in the
Making of Republican France”
The Enlightenment, a cultural and intellectual movement that spanned the late
17th to 18th centuries, had a significant impact on various aspects of society,
including the arts. In the realm of painting in France, the Enlightenment brought
about several notable changes. Here are some key shifts that occurred in
French painting during the Enlightenment:
1. Rise of Rococo Style:
The early to mid-18th century witnessed the dominance of the
Rococo style in French painting. Rococo was characterized by its
ornate and decorative qualities, featuring light colors, asymmetry,
and elaborate ornamentation.
François Boucher and Jean-Honoré Fragonard were prominent
Rococo painters known for their sensual and lighthearted depictions
of aristocratic life.
Juneja, Monica. (2002) “Family Fictions: Painting and the Politics of Gender in the Making of Republican France” 1
, 2. Celebration of Sensibility:
Enlightenment ideas of sensibility, emotional expression, and empathy
found expression in art. Paintings began to depict scenes that evoked
sentiment and a heightened awareness of emotions.
Artists like Jean-Baptiste Greuze, known for his genre scenes and
moralizing narratives, captured the emotional and moral aspects of
everyday life.
3. Interest in Portraiture:
Portraiture gained popularity during the Enlightenment, reflecting the
increasing emphasis on individualism and the celebration of the
human subject.
Élisabeth Louise Vigée Le Brun, one of the most successful portrait
painters of the time, portrayed members of the French aristocracy
and later, revolutionary figures.
4. Return to Classicism:
Towards the latter part of the 18th century, there was a shift toward
Neoclassicism, a movement that drew inspiration from classical art and
culture. This change was partly in response to the perceived excesses
of the Rococo style.
Neoclassical artists, such as Jacques-Louis David, embraced a more
restrained and idealized aesthetic. David's works often depicted
historical and mythological themes with a moralizing undertone.
5. Emphasis on Morality and Virtue:
Enlightenment ideals, which included an emphasis on reason, virtue,
and moral education, influenced the thematic content of paintings.
Artists were often encouraged to convey moral lessons and virtuous
behavior through their work.
Moralizing genre scenes, depicting everyday life with a moral
message, became a popular genre during this period.
6. Interest in Landscape Painting:
The Enlightenment also saw an increased interest in landscape
painting. Artists explored the representation of nature, often
conveying a sense of the picturesque and the sublime.
Juneja, Monica. (2002) “Family Fictions: Painting and the Politics of Gender in the Making of Republican France” 2
