The Fountain of Love

An allegory on the theme of love. This painting has a riveting sense of drama, heightened contrasts of light and shadow, and a restricted palette redolent of nocturnal mystery—characteristics that indicate a new Romantic sensibility. Fragonard's intimate allegories are among the earliest and most eloquent expressions of a new vision of romantic love as an all-consuming experience of near-mystical communion—a vision that was worlds apart from the blithe, libertine spirit of the Rococo era