Art History Series: The Romantic of the Century - Antoine Watteau (1684 - 1721)

Antoine Watteau

As one of my favourite styles is Rococo, I will tell you about Antoine Watteau as one of its founders, although this name is coined much later. He revived a sense of colour in the model of Rubens and breathed life into the already dying Baroque, moving it to gentler themes, more natural and more romantic touches. Watteau is not often mentioned as a famous artist of his time during his lifetime, or at least not in a good way. His work is seen as frivolous, with the first beginnings of impressionism in contrast to the classical school. He is perhaps the first artist who started to create like contemporary artists - for the art itself and with a personal style and choice of subjects, for which I admire him. He eventually became one of the most influential artists of the 18th century and remains a model for many artists after him. Despite his fragile health, he creates numerous works, searching for something he may never find. Unlike subsequent Rococo artists who relied on sexual motifs, in Watteau's paintings behind his theatrical sweep and love themes, there is sadness and despondency. In a biography written about him later it is said that: “He was always a seeker after something in the world, that is there in no satisfying measure, or not at all.” This description was exactly the feeling I had when I saw his works for the first time, and a feeling which I am very familiar with. It is the tenderness in his paintings that attracted me from our first "meeting".

    Regards,

    Julia

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