Embarkment to Cythera

Antoine Watteau
Jean-Antoine Watteau, Embarkment to Cythera, 1717
BY JENNY ZHU

The painting Embarkment to Cythera was Watteau's masterpiece, one of the most well-known paintings during the Rococo era. The painting tells a wondrous story about love and the lifestyle of young aristocracies.

Cythera is a beautiful Greek island of love that is believed to be the birth place of Aphrodite. One of the most frequent questions asked about this painting is whether the young couples are heading or returning to the island of Cythera. We see the a vague outline of a city lurking in the very back, which could suggest maybe that is Cythera. But we also see a statue of Aphrodite on the top right corner saying that maybe this is indeed the island of love.

I believe that they are already at Cythera because we see this progression of love throughout the painting. The lighting of the painting makes the couple under the tree the focus point, and then further the to the left the more blurred the couples are. Let's name the couple under the tree couple 1, and then the one next to them couple 2 and then 3, etc.. We see the girl in couple 1 a lot less engaging than let's say couple 6 where the girl is grabbing on the guy's arm. Girl 1 is looking downwards looking even a little irritated, while the guy is clearly lingering on to her. By the end of it, we see pid's hovering above the boat which might be a symbolization of the love finally being complete.
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The Embarkation of Cythera

Alexa Birt
Jean-Antoine Watteau, The Embarkation of Cythera, 1717
By ALEXA BIRT

The Embarkation to Cythera perfectly embodies of Rococo art. Watteau uses soft pastel colors, as well as his famed amorphous greenery, allowing the viewer to feel relaxed and at peace when admiring the work. With this in your house, you will experience tranquility and serenity, defusing stress after the inconveniences of the day. He also quite subtly uses cherubs, another characteristic of Rococo art, throughout the painting which implies a celestial nature.

The far right of the painting features three couples expressing their affection for one another. To give the viewer another inkling at the main theme of the work, Watteau uses cherubs throughout as a classic Rococo symbol of love. Another way Watteau implies romance is in the setting of the work, the island of Cythera as a part of the Ionian Islands in Greece. Cythera is known to be the birthplace of Aphrodite, the goddess of love, who is featured as a statue in the far right. By placing the piece at Aphrodite's birthplace, it symbolizes the creation of new love.

The Embarkation to Cythera would make the perfect gift as a wedding present for your beloved as it symbolizes your new-found nuptials. Placed next to the feet of one couple lies a black and white dog, sitting contentedly atop the small green hill. Dogs imply fidelity and loyalty, proving a ceaseless allegiance to one's beloved. Watteau's magnificent artwork will produce elation and the ultimate statement of status and love to you, the buyer.

Editor's Note: The authors were asked to write sales copy for Edme-François Gersaint, the prominent rococo art dealer who offered a printed catalog of available works.
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Embarkation for Cythera

Antoine Watteau
Antoine Watteau, Embarkation for Cythera, 1710

The Rococo style emerged right in the middle of the Enlightenment, an era where religion was questioned and science took its place. Philosophers and scientists garnered respect and fame, entering the global stage as figures of authority. For once, religion fell to the wayside in favor of humanity and its comforts - specifically the lavish lifestyles of the wealthy. In all aspects of art, ranging from architecture to painting, the Rococo style celebrated glamour and was the first art style to so highly elevate nobility in such flamboyant manners.

Watteau paints these rich nobles in their expensive attire enjoying the beauty of nature and the beauty of their possessions. All around them the landscape is "blooming," filling the canvas entirely. In signature Rococo style, Watteau's Embarkation to Cythera was thought to be the re-discovery of sense of self and humanity. Sense of self was very important during this period, specifically through scientific humanism. Descartes describes this idea, declaring, "I resolve to seek no other knowledge than that which I find within myself, or perhaps in the great book of nature.” The Enlightenment was a time of great prosperity and decadence as the noblemen of France became able to show off their lives in art, gaining celebrity along the way. This piece is adorned with gold, soaked in color revealing the desire for human intimacy with one another and with nature. The figures in the scene prance around and enjoy each other’s company, in their own fairytale world that they made sure to have painted so that others can look on in envy.

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