Wednesday, April 12, 2017

From Rococo Art to "Frozen"

Jean-Honoré Fragonard (1732-1806) was a French painter who specialized in light, playful paintings -- one was of a mildly risqué nature. Perhaps his most famous, and certainly most reproduced, painting was "The Swing."

The scene depicted is that of a young woman being pushed in a swing by an older man. Unseen below is a young man looking upward at her as she generously displays her legs for his viewing pleasure while swinging. (Back in the time depicted, ladies did not wear pants.)  She teasingly kicks one of her sandals in the air.



The Disney movie, "Frozen," incorporated a similar scene with Anna being the girl on the swing. However, there is no peeping Tom in the bushes to appreciate her well-turned ankle and more. Still, it is unmistakably a scene in homage to Fragonard's original painting.


Part of the charm of the rococo style in art is that it is largely non-serious rather than pompous or bombastic. As such, it fits in well with cartoon settings.


8 comments:

Cloudia said...

nice intro!

Mike said...

I don't remember the swing in Frozen. And my Granddaughter and I have watched it 10 to 20 times. I guess I'm going to have to watch it again.

Sinner Bob said...

Sure that wasn't "Tangled."?

Birgit said...

I have no clue which Disney film this comes from but, regardless, it does show have much they felt I. Tune with this great painting. I have to say I was lucky enough to see this actual painting plus a few others from this artist.

John A Hill said...

Interesting

Bilbo said...

It's always fun to hang out with the swingers!

Arlee Bird said...

Neat analysis. I've seen this painting illustrated before but never knew anything about it. Seeing that shoe fly gives a new meaning to the song "Let It Go".

Arlee Bird
Tossing It Out

Mike said...

OK you made me track down where that came from in Frozen.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eMZ_A1IP1yg
At the 2:03 mark.