The Swing

Jean-Honore Fragonard, The Swing, 1766, Rococo.

This painting is typical of the Rococo style of frivolity, childish play of the upper class, and sexual undertones. In the painting we see what appears to be a priest pushing a young woman on a swing, allowing her to expose her under-dress to the young man positioned for the view. The landscape of the painting is somewhat strange, it is not somewhere that you would typically see people swinging, heavy bushes and trees seem to be in the way of the swing. Also we see statues, which seem to be reacting to the action of the characters. One statue is making the shushing motion, while the others seem to be laughing, and looking at the young woman's behind (like the priest.) Another aspect of the painting, which is important to look at, is the woman's shoe flying off her foot, a symbol of letting herself go, becoming naked, and lack of virginity.

After reading Posner's article, I began to think more about the other aspects of the painting, and the symbolic nature of swinging. He mentions how swinging makes us think of idleness, air, and women's "inconsistent affairs of the heart. In this painting we see the priest pushing the woman on the swing, and the young man watching the woman swinging, this could be a reference to a love triangle between the woman and these two suitors. It could also be a reference to the problems within the church when it came to chastity. The priest is both pushing the woman away, as well as pulling her back, which could be his own struggle with his vows. The young man however is stationary, and pretty much open to getting whatever he can get. From the article I know that the young man seated looking up the girl’s skirt commissioned this painting. The woman on the swing is his mistress, and he specifically mentioned the bishop pushing her on the swing. I also learned that the purpose of the dense brush surrounding the swing is supposed to evoke feelings of excitement, as well as give you the feeling that this is a secret, hidden place for lovers to meet. The Bishop, it seems after reading, is meant to indicate that the woman was sort of a gift from the bishop, or this affair was known and accepted by the bishop.