Art History Series: Fête galantes – the beginning of a new genre

Antoine Watteau created a lot of works with themes completely new for his time. In 1712 the Royal Academy accepted him and it took him 5 years to submit his reception piece. When this happens, the academy is so impressed that they create a whole new category, Fête galantes, so they don't have to deny him admission because he doesn't fit any of the traditional ones. With this, he makes a completely new turn in the history of art. This is "The Embarkation for Cythera", which shows a frivolous celebration of the aristocracy after the harsh rule of Louis XIV.

Cythera is the supposed birthplace of Aphrodite and we can see a statue of her in the background. The picture is amorous, filled with cherubs, and all the participants are paired off, paying their pilgrimage to the goddess. We can read the couples as each showing the stages of falling in love. The man in the first couple is stepping on a sword to show no ill intent, and each subsequent couple seems more and more at ease in the other's presence. Despite its title, it appears that these people are leaving rather than coming to the island, but despite the questions, Watteau remains silent on the question and leaves the answers to the viewer's imagination. It is now on display in the Louvre.

In 1719 he made a second version of this theme, which is much more elaborate and detailed and is sometimes called "Pilgrimage to Cythera" to distinguish them. It is located in Charlottenburg, Berlin, where I first saw it and subsequently recognized its version in the Louvre.

He continues to follow his own voice and persistently create what he deems valuable, which I find impressive, especially for his time. I hope it gives you some courage too!

Regards,

Julia

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