Rococo: The Continuing Curve

From its origins in 18th-century France, the exuberant and sensuous Rococo style has continued to inspire artistic revivals and new design movements. This program, presented by the Smithsonian’s Cooper-Hewitt, National Design Museum, explores Rococo’s lasting influence through a discussion with scholars Laura Auricchio and Paul Greenhalgh. Together, they trace the style’s cultural and social roots and examine its revival in the Art Nouveau movement at the end of the 19th century. As Rococo's ornate, organic forms gain renewed appreciation, its decorative legacy continues to shape design across centuries.