Rococo Romance

‘The Swing’ by Jean Honoré Fragonard is an image I have loved for as long as I can remember. Probably when I saw it first I had no idea of the full connotations implicit in the image; I simply thought how joyous it was; full of such life and frivolity!

The young woman with her impossible yet beautiful skirts, flirting so innocently with her lovelorn admirer – was not so innocent after all, I realised when I was a little older and wiser.

I would love to do a dress-up in homage but don’t know where on earth I would find such an outfit (costume hire is forbidden on SNAP), or such an opulent location.

Well, I wrote that at lunchtime today, and tonight chanced upon this 1930s dress on Etsy. It would be perfect – if it would fit me; my waist is not quite that small
darn it.

But the painting also reminded me of a fashion shoot by Grant Matthews from Vogue Australia many years ago (Nov 1992). Here it is for you to enjoy. (Note the garden swing.)

(Click on images for larger version.)