Jean Honore Fragonard painted The Swing in 1766. A pupil of Chardin (one of my favorite French genre painters) and Boucher, he painted this image of a young lady on a swing in the gay and decorative  Rococo style so emblematic of the French aristocracy before the revolution. The painting, whose theme was quite scandalous, became an immediate success. A young lady is being pushed on her swing by her priest-lover. The swing’s movement brings her over a young man, who is lying on the ground and looking up her skirt. She kicks off her shoe, aiming at the statue of Cupid.

This painting, which hangs in the Wallace Museum, London has become so recognizable that the image is frequently used as an inspiration for advertisements, products, and other works of art.

Harper’s Bazaar, 2002

Yinka Shonibare, The Swing, Tate Gallery

Installation piece in the Tate Gallery. The woman is missing her head and losing her slipper.

Shoes inspired by The Swing, Manolo’s Shoe Blog, 2006

Manolo’s Shoe Blog thought these Will’s Fancy shoes were delicious enough to be worn by the girl on Fragonard’s swing.

DAZ 3-D images for purchase

This image can be purchased by people who wish to create 3-D films.

The Swing tiles

Exterior tiles with the image of The Swing.

Bernard Re Jr, Girl on a Swing, Enamel on Board, 2006