Rococo, also known as “Late Baroque,” is an 18th-century artistic movement and style that affected many aspects of the arts including painting, sculpture, architecture, interior design, decoration, literature, music, and theatre. It developed in the early 18th century in Paris as a reaction against the grandeur, symmetry, and strict regulations of the previous Baroque style.

While Baroque was heavy, masculine, and religious, Rococo was light, feminine, and secular. It is characterized by an abundance of curves, counter-curves, undulations, and elements modeled on nature—specifically shells (from which the name Rocaille is derived) and coral. In painting, Rococo moved away from the dramatic chiaroscuro of the 17th century toward a delicate, airy atmosphere where the “Fête Galante” (courtly scenes of outdoor amusement) became the primary subject matter, celebrating love, youth, and playfulness.