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Jean-Antoine Watteau 1684–1721
French Born in Valenciennes Rococo Wikipedia in 31/32 languages
He did not rely on the heavy, rigid lines of the previous era; instead, he favored a feathery brushstroke that suggested movement and air. This method allowed him to build a world that felt both present and fleeting, a quality that defined his unique approach to the canvas. He arrived at a moment when the heavy, dramatic shadows of the Baroque were beginning to wane, and he breathed new life into the medium by shifting its focus toward the Rococo.
