Rokoko

Rokoko, or Rococo, is an 18th-century European artistic movement that originated in France and spread to much of the continent, including the German-speaking realms. The name derives from rocaille, meaning rock-work or shell ornament, a motif that became central to its decorative vocabulary. The style emerged as a refined and lighter offshoot of Baroque, emphasizing grace, playfulness, and intricate ornament.

In painting, sculpture, architecture, and the decorative arts, Rokoko is distinguished by sinuous curves, asymmetry, and a delicate, pastel color palette. Motifs include shells, foliage, scrollwork, cartouches, cherubs, and intimate genre scenes of aristocratic leisure, often set in refined salon or garden contexts. The overall effect is to convey airiness, flirtation, and charm rather than the grandeur and solemnity of Baroque.

Origins and spread: Rokoko developed in early 18th-century France and quickly influenced neighboring courts. It was especially prominent in German-speaking regions, Austria, and parts of Italy, where regional variations emerged. The style reached its peak in the 1730s to the 1760s and gradually gave way to Neoclassicism from the late 1760s onward, though it persisted in decorative arts and interiors in some areas for longer.

Notable figures and lieux: French painters such as Antoine Watteau, François Boucher, and Jean-Honoré Fragonard helped define its visual idiom. Architects and designers like Germain Boffrand contributed to Rococo interiors, while centers of porcelain and decorative arts, including Meissen and Sèvres, disseminated Rococo design through furniture, ceramics, and wallpaper. The style remains a defining marker of the period’s aristocratic taste and salon culture.