rokokoajan

Rokokoajan is the term used in Finnish art history to denote the European Rococo period, roughly spanning the 1730s to the 1770s. It represents a shift from the ornate Baroque to a lighter, more decorative aesthetic that spread across much of Europe, influencing painting, sculpture, furniture, and architecture.

Origins and spread: The style began in France as a continuation of late Baroque court culture and decorative arts. It soon traveled to other regions, including Central Europe, the Baltic states, and Scandinavia, where courtly and salon cultures adopted its characteristic lightness and wit.

Characteristics: Rococo emphasizes asymmetry, sinuous curves, and sculptural ornament known as rocaille. Palettes favor pastels, gold, and white; motifs include garlands, shells, cherubs, and pastoral scenes. Subjects often revolve around leisure, romance, and aristocratic life, with playful, intimate scenes more common than grand mythologies of Baroque.

Design and material culture: In interiors, furniture features curved lines, delicate veneers, and gilded mounts; porcelain, mirrors, and stucco work are typical. Painting and sculpture favor airiness and grace over monumentality, while decorative arts emphasize refined elegance and wit.

Legacy and decline: By the late 18th century, Neoclassicism began to supplant Rococo in many regions, promoting restraint and classical references. Today rokokoajan is studied as a distinct phase that reflects contemporary tastes, court culture, and the transnational exchange of decorative arts.

See also: Rococo, Neoclassicism, Baroque, European decorative arts.