The Swing By Jean-Honore Fragonard

The Swing By Jean-Honore Fragonard

The Swing (L'Escarpolette), originally known as Fortunate Happenings on the Swing (Les Hasards heureux de l'escarpolette), is Fragonard 's best-known work. It is assumed that he was commissioned by the Baron de Saint-Julien, who wanted a image of his mistress on a swing supported by the priest, when he (the Baron) was so placed that he could see the girl's head.When it was, Fragonard replaced the bishop with the more conventional image of a cuckolded husband, but otherwise filled the commission almost to the letter. 

The Swing shows a young man-hidden in a foliage-who watches a young woman on a swing. (At the time, swinging was a common sign of infidelity.) In the background, she is being guided by an older man who has no knowledge of the involvement of a young man. 

At first sight, the picture seems to be a harmless shot of an innocent young woman at play, but then it becomes apparent that the picture is intentionally reckless and very careless.And as the lady swings higher and higher on the wheel, she lets her admirer see her dress-and even pushes her legs out for his benefit. As she does, she gives one of her shoes to a winged figure who could easily represent Cupid, the Roman god of lust and sexual love.