Self-Expression in Rococo Art: Analyzing the Social and Political Roles of Women through Fashion and Artistic Representation

Abstract

Feminism and gender equality are the topics that are often discussed in modern societies. On social media, there are also clothes designed for women to protest the inequality impost on them. As these problems are frequently discussed, it leads to a feminine aesthetic fashion—Rococo. This paper’s research background is based on 1700-1785 in France, known as the Rococo period. Rococo style began in the 1730s, focusing on its intricate and delicate decorations. This paper first used the comparison to analyze the difference between Rococo and Baroque styles by listing the famous architecture–Palace of Versailles. The study also examines the women’s roles during the Rococo period, highlighting the roles of significant figures like Madame de Pompadour and Marie Antoinette. Through the detailed analysis of clothing, arts, and social roles of women, this paper includes how women used fashion as a tool to express themselves in 18th-century France. The results show that women who employ fashion and art as a method to navigate the restrictive gender roles of their time are particularly effective.