Blind Man's Buff
Historical Context
Fragonard's Blind Man's Buff from 1777, in the Timken Museum of Art, is one of his decorative panels depicting the popular parlor game in an outdoor garden setting. The game's symbolism of blindness, chance, and pursuit made it a natural subject for Rococo art's exploration of romantic intrigue and social play. Fragonard's treatment invests the subject with the dynamic energy and atmospheric richness that distinguish his garden scenes from the more artificial compositions of his contemporaries.
Technical Analysis
Fragonard's energetic brushwork captures the animated movement of the players in a lush garden setting. The warm palette of greens and golds and the dynamic figure arrangement create a scene of infectious festive energy.
