The Swing (1766)

The Swing (1766) is another painting by Fragonard that is loaded with sexual symbolism. The unknown patron was likely a gentleman of the court and originally asked Gabriel-Francois Doyen to do the commission. He asked Doyen to paint his mistress on a swing that was to be pushed by a bishop. He wanted to include himself in the scene, in a position where he could look up the woman's skirts. In the end Doyen rejected the commission and referred the patron to Fragonard.
 
The couple in the painting appear to be having a secret affair, or are about to have one. This is indicated by the statue of Cupid holding a finger to his lips. The swing is a symbol of the fickle, playful woman. As the woman is swinging, her skirts part so that the man laying below is able to see up them. The man pushing the swing may be a bishop, or perhaps he is the woman's father or husband who is unaware of what is going on. The man holds out his hat and offers it to the woman as she loses her shoe, which suggests that they are both promiscuous. Her shoe flies through the air and will land in the bushes, where the couple will likely meet for a tryst.

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