Why This Painting Is Not as Innocent As It Appears

 by Sabiha Sabikunnaher

Jean-Honoré Fragonard’s greatest masterpiece of the 18th century, ‘The Swing,’ changed the trajectory of his career. People may admire its lighthearted, playful atmosphere but it possesses a hidden meaning as well as unusual symbols causing it to be utterly intriguing - and less innocent the more you observe it.

I am amazed by the visuals of this piece; the portrayal of the woman causes me to question the depth and meaning everytime I see it. I will explore the queries raised when one views this painting later on in this article. For example: why there is a puppy-eyed man lying in a bush foaming at the mouth staring at the lady, why there is another man watching the girl from the dark shadows, and why the gargoyle is trying to hush up the so-called innocent scene.

If you look closely, a story forms in the painting: a girl emerges from the depth of the emerald vegetation, gliding merrily and glowing bright at the centre, as if the heavens were focusing all their light and radiance on her. The left slipper flies away whilst the other barely dangles but she doesn't care as someone awaits below to catch it for her. In the bushes beneath, a man gazes upwards with a somewhat dazed expression, hand outstretched. Well, besides the fact that he’s looking up her skirt, her ankle is on full display which was quite an erotic gesture at the time. 

However, there’s a twist. 

The man drooling in the bushes is her supposed lover, while her actual husband is pushing the swing affectionately from the shadows at the back, blissfully unaware of the gentleman hiding in the bushes. Such a scandalous moment of irony. Personally, what I find to be smart is how the back and forth motion of the swing is metaphorical in the sense that she sways to and fro between her deceived husband and eager lover. You’d think the husband was in control holding the reins, but the symbolic hold of marriage is being broken as the rope frays and the husband slowly loses power. It could also convey how the youthful woman is restrained by the husband, possibly why he is almost overcome by the darkness and the young man is illuminated, representing freedom and young love. However, no matter how hard she swings, she is always forced to go back to her husband. Though, it may seem that she’s about to fall right onto the young man’s face, possibly representing her inevitable demise when this affair is revealed. Regardless, her worries are nonexistent as her petite slipper flies at the statue of cupid with a finger raised to its lips, as if to say ‘whatever happens in the garden, stays in the garden’.

In the background on the right, there’s another cherub statue seated upon a fish with shocked and even shameful looks etched onto their faces. There is also a white dog (which were used to symbolise fidelity) barking at her, as if to alert the world of what blasphemous treachery is occurring. This right side is in stark contrast with the silent secret cupid presents on the left, creating an interplay between both sides as one encourages the wild, reckless behaviour whilst the other advocates fidelity and restraint.

What does this painting teach us? Don’t trust what you see at first glance - though you might have thought this to be a whimsical, playful scene, things are not always as they seem…