Rococo was an ornate style of painting, sculpture, and furniture that was in vogue in the early 18th century in France (and that later spread to the rest of Europe). The style is characterized by lightness, curving lines, and ornamentation. The word "Rococo" is from the word "rocaille," a technique in which pebbles, seashells, and other items were placed on objects, and the motif of these objects was used in the style of art. Diderot and other philosophes criticized the Rococo style as too superficial to really constitute the beauty that was the essence of art. Diderot saw the Rococo style as pleasing, but not constituting true art or beauty. Other philosophes saw Rococo artwork as too superficial and limited to be of true value or worth, and the style became out of vogue.
The term "rococo" is a playful variation on the French word rocaille, meaning "rock garden."
Rococo art, which originated in France but also became popular in Austria and Russia, is known for its highly ornate style, an even more stylized version of Baroque art. Rococo influenced painting but particularly influenced architecture and decor given its flagrant promotion of wealth.
Rococo painters, particularly Antoine Watteau and Jean-Honore Fragonard, depicted fetes galantes—that is, scenes in which members of the aristocracy were shown enjoying leisurely moments in natural settings. Several philosophes including Denis Diderot and Voltaire found the paintings trivial and disliked their "elegant eroticism." Diderot wanted a "nobler art" that would more directly address the human condition. Neoclassism and Romanticism, genres of art which depicted political figures (such as Napoleon), historical scenes, and political issues (such as the slave trade), emerged after the decline of rococo, which coincided with the French Revolution.
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