The Rococo era in Europe was a time of new ideas, thoughts and expressions. High society adapted to the change in culture upon the death of Louis XIV of France. The Rococo era brought a new wave of elegance and sophistication. This period is often referred to as the century of revolutions. Philosophy, science, rhetorical works, and industries were all part of the Age of Revolution, a multitude of ideas and breakthroughs in the world of men. This era influenced American art only in the sense that it became attractively elegant. Art in Europe, however, was elegant in the extreme; if man were so noble, so elevated and so scientific, art should be beautiful works of intelligence. The man had confidence in himself; women strive to be independent, a trait that is evident in many women's works such as Labille-Guiard's Self-Portrait with Two Students (26-16) and Vigee-Lebrun's Self-Portrait (26-15). During the times of revolutions, ideas invaded people's minds. Compared to Baroque art, Rococo art featured figures in almost every painting, sculpture, or tableau. Although this era was a time of tension and unrest in many countries, the art produced by the people was very, almost overloaded with designs and emblems, such as Robert Adam's Etruscan Chamber (26-24). The architecture was certainly different, but it remained symmetrical. Otherwise, the art remained very majestic but unique to its own era. Interestingly, the role of women in the artistic world was a statement of individualism. Women who were tired of being subjected to everything decided to throw off these proverbial bonds and become artists. It was a declaration of independence in society. (Kleiner, 739) An example of this is the magnificent self-portrait painted in the middle of the paper...... by the Curiatti brothers, and vice versa. Unfortunately, the brothers had disagreements and, despite the lamentations of their sisters and wives, they fought and eventually killed each other. The tension displayed in this piece is, in some ways, a parallel to David's tension that he experienced during the French Revolution. Overall, I noticed that each piece from this era, while sometimes tense, exuded a certain slow-paced peace, which is one of the elements that made the art of this period so distinctive. Works Cited Kleiner, Fred S. and Helen Gardner. Gardner's Art Through the Ages: A Global History. Boston, MA: Thomson/Wadsworth, 2009. Print. “Thomas Gainsborough, The Blue Boy English Rococo Era. » Tips for fine art and painting. WordPress. Internet. February 15. 2012. .