Reflections on Watteau

Playful, elegant, romantic; idyllic outdoor scenes in pastel shades; a theatrical feast for the eyes that revealed the sensuousness of indulgent lifestyles… that was the world of the Rococo painters and none captured this better than Jean-Antoine Watteau.

An 18th century French painter and draftsman, Watteau rose from provincial obscurity to become one of the most recognised Rococo artists in the world. He is most known for two things: fêtes galantes and trois crayons, wherein lies the true testament of his originality and contribution to Rococo.

Ceres (Summer), ca. 1717/1718
Courtesy National Gallery of Art, Washington

The Rococo movement

The movement traces its origins to early 1700 France. It may be fair to say that as an artistic style Rococo did not enjoy the public appeal of the Baroque era that preceded it or the revolutionary ideals of the Neoclassical movement that followed it. As is the case with all art, it captured the essence of an era – that of Regency society, but often in what was absent from the canvass rather than what was on it.

There was the disastrous reign of Louis XV, the influence of his infamous royal mistress Madame de Pompadour, the apathetic reluctance (or is it haughty refusal?) of the French aristocracy to address rising socio-economic issues among the working classes, and a burgeoning upper middle class that desperately wanted to be taken seriously.

In the midst of all this tension and a wider world that was happy to imitate the French (widely considered to be the trend-setters of the day) Rococo flourished in art, architecture, interior design and sculpture. It was fun, frivolous, colourful, dramatic and it aimed to please.

The Festival of Love, about 1718/19
© Gemäldegalerie Alte Meister, Staatliche Kunstsammlungen Dresden, Photo: Elke Estel/Hans-Peter Klut

Watteau: elegance and emotion

Watteau’s work was so innovative that when the prestigious Académie Royale de Peinture et de Sculpture in Paris awarded him the Prix de Rome, they did so under a new category: fêtes galantes (courtly scenes in an idyllic country setting).

What was so original about Watteau’s works? After all, he was a product of his time and a Rococo artist – he too aimed to please. Where he excelled was at blending harmony and colour, portraying intimacy and emotion, and balancing luxury with elegance.

Pélerinage à l'île de Cythère (Pilgrimage to Cythera), 1717
© 2009 Musée du Louvre / Erich Lessing

It was also not without a hint of regret. Take a second look… mingling with the busy cupids, passionate lovers and the statue of Venus, is the woman who looks back with what appears to be nostalgia, couples who seem to be leaving rather than arriving as the title might suggest, and the question of whether there’s a class narrative depicted through clothing.

…and then there were three

Watteau was also a master of the trois crayons (three chalks) technique, which uses red, black and white chalk for drawings on paper. Though it was first made popular by the likes of Rubens and La Fosse, it was Watteau who seemed to have made the most of the art form, blending the three colours in chalk to create the effect of mass, of tone and of depth.

These drawings seem paintings in their own right, in the way the colours blend, the shadows dance and the light falls.

A Man Reclining and a Woman Seated on the Ground, ca. 1716
Courtesy National Gallery of Art, Washington

Discover Watteau’s art with artsy.net

If you’re looking to learn more about Watteau and his art, artsy.net is a great place to start. They have a page dedicated to Watteau and 29 of his works.

You can explore the works by the institution that has Watteau’s works currently on display (the National Gallery of Art in Washington DC, USA lays claim to most of his works), by time period (from 1700 to 1730) or by medium (most of his works are on paper).

While none of the works are up for sale, it’s helpful to know where they are, so if ever you’re in the vicinity, a detour might be in order. It’s also worth keeping an eye on their ‘SHOWS’ section to see if any special group showings are coming up.