Swinging A Mistress

The Swing is the most iconic image of the French Rococo. Jean-Honore Fragonard completed the oil on canvas in 1767 and it is currently housed at the Wallace Collection in London. Here, we are going to simply explore the energy made present by the painting.

A mistress in her prettiest dress is placed front and center and highlighted by a diagonal light. She is being pushed on a swing by a bishop hidden in the corner. Across from him is a man hidden in the bushes while glancing up the mistress’s dress. The heads of all three individuals create a triangle.

The sexual energy of the painting captures the scandals of the time. One example is the exposed ankles, which reveal too much skin. Even though, it was acceptable for men to have a mistress, woman had to appear innocent. However, the painting suggests that in private the woman were sexual.

The painting expresses a light free energy regardless of social standards. This triggers a sense of excitement. This energy is also expressed in Disney’s movie Frozen when one of the characters leaps in front of a painting utilizing Fragonard’s composition.

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