Rococo: The Continuing Curve 1730-2008
This exhibition was on display from February 15, 2008 to July 31, 2008.
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The stylistic movement known as rococo, which began in eighteenth-century France, has infused design objects with a sinuous, organic, and sensuous impulse for three centuries. In its original manifestation, rococo dominated French design from 1730 to 1765, during the reign of Louis XV. The king and his mistress Madame de Pompadour endorsed the rococo spirit, as it reflected their predilection for an intimate lifestyle and their love of extravagance. Rococo turned away from the contraints of classicism's geometry toward nature for models, celebrating the tactile as well as the visual, the fantastical over the intellectual. Designers competed to produce highly original, eccentric, and exotic designs in silver, refined woods, textiles, and ceramics, all of which appealed to the senses and emotions. Rococo design ideas, transmitted by decorative-arts prints, objects, and the traveling designers themselves, quickly spread to England, the Netherlands, the German states, the Iberian Peninsula, Italy, and America.
The rococo impulse went underground during the late eighteenth and early nineteenth centuries, when neoclassicism prevailed, then resurfaced in England under the flamboyant Prince Regent, later George IV, and in France during the Second Empire (1852-70). Rococo's most significant later interpretation occurred internationally from about 1880 to 1915, when designers found inspiration in the natural flow of the rococo aesthetic for a new design concept known as Art Nouveau. While the austere geometry of modernism governed much of design thinking during the twentieth century, designers continually returned to organic, natural curves as a source of inspiration in the 1930s, 1950s, and the psychedelic 1960s. More recently, the rococo spirit has burst forth once again as a creative force.
Through the past 300 years, the generative influences behind rococo and its revivals appear to be similar. Rococo erupts in reaction to periods of severe constraint and thrives in times of burgeoning economic prosperity. Rococo objects speak to human desires that go beyond simple necessity, and many are works of extreme craftsmanship. They tap into the sensuous, pleasure-seeking aspects of design when designers and their patrons seek creative freedom and fantasy. Finally, rococo reflects increased respect for the feminine, with objeccts referencing the female form. Rococo: The Continuing Curve, 1730-2008 places the exuberant movement within the historic continuum, bringing together an unprecedented collection of designers and objects of different eras to celebrate the joyful and liberating spirit of rococo.
- Drawing, Design for a Patch-Box
- black chalk, pen and black ink, brush and black wash on laid paper.
- Purchased for the Museum by the Advisory Council.
- 1911-28-2
- This object is part of the Drawings, Prints, and Graphic Design collection.
- There are 3 images of this object.
- Drawing, Design for a Wall Panel with Fireplace
- pen and black ink, brush and gray and light violet wash, graphite on white....
- Purchased for the Museum by the Advisory Council.
- 1911-28-36
- This object is part of the Drawings, Prints, and Graphic Design collection.
- There are 2 images of this object.
- Drawing, Chariot of Apollo, Ceiling Design for Count Bielinski's Cabinet,...
- pen and gray ink, brush and watercolor, gouache, gold paint, black chalk on....
- Purchased for the Museum by the Advisory Council.
- 1911-28-214
- This object is part of the Drawings, Prints, and Graphic Design collection.
- There are 3 images of this object.
- Drawing, Design for an Ornament Panel
- pen and brown and black ink, black chalk, brush and yellow, pale green, gray,....
- Purchased for the Museum by the Advisory Council.
- 1911-28-215
- This object is part of the Drawings, Prints, and Graphic Design collection.
- There are 2 images of this object.
- Drawing, Ornament Composition
- pen and brown ink, brush and gray wash, black chalk on white laid paper.
- Purchased for the Museum by the Advisory Council.
- 1911-28-416
- This object is part of the Drawings, Prints, and Graphic Design collection.
- There are 3 images of this object.
- Drawing, Design for the Hilt of a Hunting Sword
- pen and black ink, brush and black wash, gray-blue watercolor on paper, laid....
- Purchased for the Museum by the Advisory Council.
- 1911-28-504
- This object is part of the Drawings, Prints, and Graphic Design collection.
- There are 2 images of this object.
- Drawing, Design for an Escutcheon in Form of Boat with Sail, for Recueil...
- pen and brush and black ink, wash, graphite on cream laid paper.
- Gift of Eleanor and Sarah Hewitt.
- 1914-21-29
- This object is part of the Drawings, Prints, and Graphic Design collection.
- There are 3 images of this object.
- Print, Projet de Sculpture en Argent d'un Grand Surtout de Table et les Deux...
- etching on off-white laid paper.
- Purchased for the Museum by the Advisory Council.
- 1921-6-212-72
- This object is part of the Drawings, Prints, and Graphic Design collection.
- There are 4 images of this object.
- Print, Chairs, No. XIV
- etching on off-white laid paper.
- Purchased for the Museum by the Advisory Council.
- 1921-6-450-15
- This object is part of the Drawings, Prints, and Graphic Design collection.
- There are 2 images of this object.
- Print, Fire Screen: The Sense of Taste
- etching, printed from two plates, hand colored with brush and watercolor on....
- Gift of Eleanor and Sarah Hewitt.
- 1921-22-280
- This object is part of the Drawings, Prints, and Graphic Design collection.
- Print, Fountain Design, from "Livre nouveau de douze morceaux de fantaisie"
- etching, engraving on white laid paper.
- Gift of Eleanor and Sarah Hewitt.
- 1925-2-487
- This object is part of the Drawings, Prints, and Graphic Design collection.
- Drawing, Design for an Ornament Panel
- pen and black ink, brush and gray wash, black chalk on paper.
- Gift of Eleanor and Sarah Hewitt.
- 1931-73-244
- This object is part of the Drawings, Prints, and Graphic Design collection.
- There are 2 images of this object.
- Print, Rocaille (rococo design), in Nouveaux morceaux pour des paravents (New...
- etching, engraving on white paper.
- Gift of Eleanor and Sarah Hewitt.
- 1931-94-11
- This object is part of the Drawings, Prints, and Graphic Design collection.
- There are 3 images of this object.
- Drawing, Design for a Cabriolet
- pen and black ink, brush and grey, pale blue, and pale lavender wash, black....
- Museum purchase through gift of various donors and from Eleanor G. Hewitt Fund.
- 1938-88-3188
- This object is part of the Drawings, Prints, and Graphic Design collection.
- There are 2 images of this object.
- Drawing, Design for a Fan, Closed
- pen and black ink, brush and wash, watercolor, white gouache on cream laid....
- Museum purchase through gift of various donors and from Eleanor G. Hewitt Fund.
- 1938-88-5286
- This object is part of the Drawings, Prints, and Graphic Design collection.
- There are 2 images of this object.
- Drawing, The Elevation of a Silver or Silver Gilt Tureen
- pen and brown ink, brush and gouache, watercolor on off-white laid paper.
- Museum purchase through gift of various donors and from Eleanor G. Hewitt Fund.
- 1938-88-6003
- This object is part of the Drawings, Prints, and Graphic Design collection.
- There are 2 images of this object.
- Drawing, Design for a Chaise Lounge
- brush and watercolor, graphite on white paper.
- Museum purchase through gift of Jacques Seligmann.
- 1948-24-1
- This object is part of the Drawings, Prints, and Graphic Design collection.
- There are 3 images of this object.
- Drawing, Design for a Rocaille Ornament
- brush and gouache, gold paint on dark blue wove paper.
- Museum purchase through gift of Mrs. John Innes Kane.
- 1948-40-186
- This object is part of the Drawings, Prints, and Graphic Design collection.
- There are 2 images of this object.
- Drawing, Design for a Brooch
- brush and gouache, watercolor, graphite on blue-gray wove paper.
- Museum purchase through gift of Mrs. Henry B. du Pont.
- 1954-41-1
- This object is part of the Drawings, Prints, and Graphic Design collection.
- There are 4 images of this object.
- Bound Volume, Frontispiece for Book 4, in Eight books of Ornament
- engravings on white laid paper, bound in half-calf and marbled boards.
- Purchased for the Museum by the Advisory Council.
- 1962-126-1
- This object is part of the Drawings, Prints, and Graphic Design collection.
- There are 13 images of this object.
- Poster, The Sound
- offset lithograph on white wove paper.
- Gift of Mr. and Mrs. Leslie J. Schreyer.
- 1979-34-27
- This object was made by Bill Graham.
- This object is part of the Drawings, Prints, and Graphic Design collection.
- There are 4 images of this object.
- Drawing, Design for a Bronze Mounted Vase
- graphite on wove paper.
- Museum purchase from McNiel Fund.
- 1985-61-2
- This object is part of the Drawings, Prints, and Graphic Design collection.
- There are 2 images of this object.
- Drawing, Design for a Comb with "Flying Fish" Motif
- graphite, brush and watercolor, white gouache on brownish translucent wove....
- Museum purchase from General Acquisitions Endowment and Smithsonian....
- 1998-10-1
- This object is part of the Drawings, Prints, and Graphic Design collection.
- There are 2 images of this object.
- Drawing, Textile Design: Anemones, Apple Blossoms, and Narcissi
- brush and watercolor, graphite on cream wove paper.
- Museum purchase from Drawings and Prints Council Fund.
- 1999-58-1
- This object is part of the Drawings, Prints, and Graphic Design collection.
- There are 3 images of this object.
- Print, Der Küss (The Kiss), from Pan, vol. 4, no. 2, 1898
- woodcut on thin cream japan paper.
- Museum purchase from General Acquisitions Endowment Fund.
- 2005-13-1
- This object is part of the Drawings, Prints, and Graphic Design collection.
- There are 2 images of this object.
- Sidewall (France)
- block-printed paper.
- Gift of D. Lorraine Yerkes.
- 1941-107-6
- This object was made by Zuber & Cie.
- This object is part of the Wallcoverings collection.
- There are 2 images of this object.
- Sidewall (France)
- block-printed paper, polished ground.
- Gift of James J. Rorimer.
- 1950-111-7
- This object was made by Zuber & Cie.
- This object is part of the Wallcoverings collection.
- Textile, Femme à Marguerite (Woman with Daisy)
- cotton.
- Museum purchase from General Acquisitions Endowment Fund.
- 2004-6-2
- Bound Print, Design for a Carriage
- etching and engraving on white laid paper.
- Purchased for the Museum by the Advisory Council.
- 1921-6-221-2
- This object is part of the Drawings, Prints, and Graphic Design collection.
- There are 2 images of this object.
- Side Chair (USA)
- carved laminated and steamed rosewood veneer, oak (frame), silk upholstery....
- Gift of Mrs. Edwin Gould.
- 1937-4-2
- This object is part of the Product Design and Decorative Arts collection.
- There are 8 images of this object.
- Pleated Fan And Case (France)
- painted parchment leaf, carved, pierced, painted and gilt ivory sticks.
- Gift of Mrs. A. Murray Young.
- 1937-28-2-a,b
- Charger, from the Swan Service (Schwanenservice) Charger
- hard paste porcelain, vitreous enamel, gold.
- Museum purchase through gift of Commander Henry H. Gorringe.
- 1950-130-1
- This object was made by Meissen Porcelain Manufactory.
- This object is part of the Product Design and Decorative Arts collection.
- There are 7 images of this object.
- Pleated Fan (Italy)
- gilded parchment leaf painted in watercolors, carved and gilded....
- Gift of Anonymous Donor.
- 1952-161-205
- Bed Hanging (France)
- silk, metal-wrapped silk-core yarns.
- Gift of Anonymous Donor.
- 1952-166-46-a
- Candelabrum Candelabrum
- silver.
- Gift of Anonymous Donor.
- 1952-166-99-a/j
- This object was made by Edward Barnard & Sons.
- This object is part of the Product Design and Decorative Arts collection.
- There are 2 images of this object.