We propose to host a conference in which we interrogate the relationship between rococo art and geographical setting in order to redefine rococo art as a global phenomenon. When scholars confront rococo art in sites outside of France, it is usually understood in relation to rococo art’s Frenchness, either as a straightforward borrowing of French design, or sometimes through modification or adaptation. We suspect that a global approach to rococo art will reveal a much wider range of applications, design and stylistic choices, cultural meanings and practices than have heretofore been recognized, and that this consequently may help to further refine what rococo meant in its “original” version. In other words, our conference seeks to begin a discussion that will create new interpretive frameworks for rococo that account for its full geographical and material diversity.
UC PI:
Michael Yonan
Art and Art History, UC Davis
France PI:
Marlen Schneider
Département d'histoire de l'art et d'archéologie, Université Grenoble Alpes