Rococo Art and Design

Derived from the French word rocaille (meaning “rock-work”) and Italian borocco (“Baroque”), Rococo was a highly ornamented and florid style popular in 18th-century Europe, especially in France. It was characterized by pastel colors, sinuous curves, and asymmetrical patterns based on flowers, vines, corals and seashells. Reacting against the Baroque style, Rococo artists favored more intimate mythological scenes, idyllic pastoral imagery, and lighthearted depictions of pleasure-seeking. Although rejected by the Neoclassicists, the style enjoyed periods of renewed interest, such as during Rococo Revival in the mid-19th century.