• Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • About
    • About Art Class Curator
    • Contact
    • Speaking
    • Media & Press
    • Programs for Schools
  • Blog
  • Podcast
  • Shop
  • Join
  • Member Login

Art Class Curator

Hands-on and Minds-curious Art Learning

  • Art & Artists
  • Art Connection Activities
  • Art Teacher Tips
  • Elements & Principles
  • Downloads & Resources
Home
  • About
    • About Art Class Curator
    • Contact
    • Speaking
    • Media & Press
    • Programs for Schools
  • Blog
    • Art & Artists
    • Elements & Principles
    • Art Connection Activities
    • Art Teacher Tips
    • Downloads & Resources
  • Book
  • Podcast
  • Shop
  • Join
  • Member Login

August 29, 2018 Leave a Comment

Yinka Shonibare’s The Swing: Culture and Identity in a Global Society

  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • Email

Inside: Comparing Yinka Shonibare The Swing (after Fragonard) with the original painting and exploring the commentary on race, class, and multiculturalism.

The Swing is Jean-Honoré Fragonard’s best known work and is an icon of the Rococo style. It’s a painting that’s so familiar, it can be easy to pass it by without considering the details or the story behind it. Yinka Shonibare, a bi-cultural artist whose work explores issues of race, class, and colonialism, recreated the famous artwork and gave us a lot more to think about.

Yinka Shonibare The Swing 700x1000

Fragonard’s original painting depicts a lavishly dressed young woman swinging with the help of a man in the shadows while another man looks up at her from below. Symbolic statues watch in the lush outdoor setting and the man below is well placed to look up the woman’s skirts. The woman is looking at the man while one of her shoes is flying over his head, seemingly flung from her foot. The artwork is rumored to have been commissioned by a man who wanted a painting of himself and his mistress, a detail which adds an interesting layer to the original title of the painting, The Happy Accidents of the Swing.

The Swing (after Fragonard)

Jean-Honoré Fragonard The Swing
Jean-Honoré Fragonard, The Swing, 1767

Yinka Shonibare The Swing (after Fragonard) features a lifesize, three-dimensional recreation of the woman on the swing with some of the surrounding foliage, but there are many notable differences. The eloquent dress is made with bright African wax prints (that aren’t exactly African) that are branded with a fake Chanel logo. The mannequin skin tone is brown rather than white.

And, oh, she’s headless.

Yinka Shonibare The Swing (after Fragonard)
Yinka Shonibare, The Swing (after Fragonard)

Yinka Shonibare The Swing (after Fragonard) was not the first or last Rococo artwork the artist took a guillotine to.

Thomas Gainsborough, Mr and Mrs Andrews, 1750 beside Yinka Shonibare, Mr.and Mrs. Andrews without their Heads, 1998


Thomas Gainsborough, Mr and Mrs Andrews, 1750 beside Yinka Shonibare, Mr.and Mrs. Andrews without their Heads, 1998

Henry Raeburn, The Reverend Robert Walker Skating on Duddingston Loch, 1790s beside Yinka Shonibare, Reverend on Ice, 2005

Henry Raeburn, The Reverend Robert Walker Skating on Duddingston Loch, 1790s beside Yinka Shonibare, Reverend on Ice, 2005

It’s worth pointing out that The Swing became a hallmark of the frivolity and wealth that philosophers in the Age of Enlightenment abhorred, and less than 30 years after Fragonard finished his painting, the French Revolution began claiming the heads of many in the aristocracy.

Shonibare’s version invites us to consider who society allows to be light-hearted, the trappings of sexism, racism, and classism, and the status symbols we use as a cultural shorthand to tell us who is important.

Much of how we define ourselves is determined by how society sees us and most people don’t take more than a glance. Our gender, the color of our skin, the clothes we wear, and the activities we take part in speak for us. Without our voice, without our heads, what do our bodies say?

Pattern in Yinka Shonibare Artworks

In addition to the beheading, another key change in Shonibare’s recreation is his use of color and pattern in the fabrics. When researching the work of Shonibare, I discovered these fabrics that we would usually associate with Africa did not originate in Africa. These “Dutch wax” fabrics were originally created in England and Holland, and they were sold to people in Africa after selling them in Indonesia failed. These fabrics became an integral part of African culture, and Shonibare found that duality of cultural identity interesting. He said, “But actually, the fabrics are not really authentically African the way people think. They prove to have a crossbred cultural background quite of their own. And it’s the fallacy of that signification that I like. It’s the way I view culture—it’s an artificial construct.”

Free Poster

What Do Kids Learn from Looking at Art Poster

Our students learn so much from looking at art. Use this poster in your classroom to remind them of all the skills they’re growing!

Download

Free Poster

What Do Kids Learn from Looking at Art Poster

Our students learn so much from looking at art. Use this poster in your classroom to remind them of all the skills they’re growing!

Identity in a Global World

Shonibare was born in London and grew up in both Nigeria and the United Kingdom. When asked about multiculturalism, he said, “In a diverse society, people have to find a way of being together, and that can only come from understanding other cultures. Otherwise, you’re just fighting for space.”

Yinka’s work asks us to think about how identities are constructed in today’s global society. This is an essential question for all of us, but especially the youth who are discovering and sculpting themselves for the first time. In a society that often reverts to ‘us versus them’ and prizes the individual over the collective, it is vital for our students to actively participate not only in the creation of their personal identity, but in the building of a shared, inclusive community identity. Comparing Yinka Shonibare The Swing (after Fragonard) with the original can help them do that.

Discussion Questions

Use Yinka Shonibare The Swing in your classroom with the following discussion questions.

  • What’s going on here? What do you see that makes you say that?
  • How does this artwork merge different cultures?
  • How are the mood/emotions different from this artwork to Fragonard’s version?
  • Why do you think this artist choose to depict this artwork as a sculpture?
  • Why did the artist choose to decapitate the figure?

Classroom Connection

The compare and contrast art activity from the bundle of free art appreciation worksheets is a great way to get students thinking. This would be a great artwork for older students to write about, especially when they’re studying the history of the 1700s. Putting this artwork with others that show the duality of culture and reference colonization and class systems would open up the educational possibilities.

compare contrast art worksheet

Free Worksheets!

Art Appreciation Worksheets

In this free bundle of art worksheets, you receive six ready-to-use art worksheets with looking activities designed to work with almost any work of art.

Download

Free Worksheets!

Art Appreciation Worksheets

In this free bundle of art worksheets, you receive six ready-to-use art worksheets with looking activities designed to work with almost any work of art.

  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • Email

Filed Under: Art and Artists
Tagged With: jean-honore fragonard, yinka shonibare

 

You May Also Enjoy These Posts:

The Best Examples of Emphasis in ArtThe Best Examples of Balance in Art: Symmetrical, Asymmetrical, and RadialArtworks that Show Line

Reader Interactions

Leave a Comment Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

Primary Sidebar

Hi! I’m Cindy Ingram, the creator of Art Class Curator and The Curated Connections Library

I’m on a mission to revolutionize education with the power of life-changing art connections. Art is not “extra”. Art is essential. We are empowering teachers to bridge the gap between art making and art connection, kindling a passion for art that will transform generations.

More About Me

Free Resource!

82 Questions About Art

82 questions you can use to start and extend conversations about works of art with your classroom. Free download includes a list plus individual question cards perfect for laminating!

Download

Free Resource!

82 Questions About Art

82 questions you can use to start and extend conversations about works of art with your classroom. Free download includes a list plus individual question cards perfect for laminating!

Enrollment in Curated Connections Library is currently open. Click here to join. Join our list to get more information and to get a free lesson from the vault! If you are purchasing for a school or school district, head over here for more information.

Check Out What’s New In The Shop

Experience Art: Engaging Art Criticism Discussions and Activities for Teachers and Students of All Ages
Call to Art: An Un-Conference for Art Educators
Curated Connections Library Membership
Perspectives High School Curriculum

More Products

Have You Listened to the Latest Podcast Episode?

Falling for Naudline Pierre’s Evocative Art: A Conversation with Madalyn (Part 2)

More Episodes

Testimonials

I like how this program, unlike other art class resource membership programs, feels authentic. It's like art matters more here, and not fancy flash-in-the-pan trendiness. The goal of Art Class Curator seemed to be helping kids develop a lifelong love and art appreciation versus "Hey, look. I painted this fish."
Erin A.
Your questions are helping me to delve into much deeper learning, and my students are getting better at discussion-and then, making connections in their own work. Art Class Curator is awesome!
Denise W.
Interestingly, my lower performing classes really get engaged in these [lessons] and come away with some profound thoughts!
Melissa G.
I had the most amazing 6th grade class today. They were jumping out of their seats with hands raised just to respond and give input. It was as if I was waving candy in front of them! They saw more and more and the ideas and interpretations unfolded. So cool!!! This is what makes teaching art so wonderful – thank you!!
Caroline G.
I just wanted to thank you for the invaluable resource you have through Art Class Curator. Not only do you have thought provoking activities and discussion prompts, but it saves me so much time in preparing things for myself! I feel like I’ve only scratched the surface with your site.
Maryjane F.

Get Art Inspiration To Your Inbox!

Enter your email address to get regular art inspiration to your inbox
plus a BUNDLE OF 6 FREE WORKSHEETS!
We hate SPAM and promise to keep your email address safe.
Download

Free Worksheets!

*Free Bundle of Art Appreciation Worksheets*

In this free bundle of art worksheets, you receive six ready-to-use art worksheets with looking activities designed to work with almost any work of art.

Copyright © 2025 Ignite Art, LLC DBA Art Class Curator •  All rights reserved  •  Privacy Policy  •  Terms of Service  •  Site Design by Emily White Designs