The See-Saw
c. 1723-1727
Nicolas Lancret captures the playful, flirtatious spirit of the Rococo era with this delightful scene of aristocrats at play. Set within an ornate, whimsical border featuring a busy squirrel and perched birds, a woman in a sweeping blue dress and a dashing gentleman in red balance precariously on a wooden plank. The see-saw was a popular motif in 18th-century French art, often serving as a cheeky metaphor for the ups and downs of romantic courtship. It perfectly illustrates how the French nobility spent their time before the Revolution—frolicking in idealized gardens and turning simple playground games into high art.