The galant style was an 18th-century movement in music, visual arts and literature. In Germany a closely related style was called the ''
empfindsamer Stil
Empfindsamkeit () or Empfindsamer Stil is a style of musical composition and poetry developed in 18th-century Germany, intended to express "true and natural" feelings, and featuring sudden contrasts of mood. It was developed as a contrast to the B ...
'' (sensitive style). Another close relative is
rococo
Rococo, less commonly Roccoco ( , ; or ), also known as Late Baroque, is an exceptionally ornamental and dramatic style of architecture, art and decoration which combines asymmetry, scrolling curves, gilding, white and pastel colours, sculpte ...
style. The galant style was drawn in opposition to the strictures of the
Baroque
The Baroque ( , , ) is a Western Style (visual arts), style of Baroque architecture, architecture, Baroque music, music, Baroque dance, dance, Baroque painting, painting, Baroque sculpture, sculpture, poetry, and other arts that flourished from ...
style, emphasizing light elegance in place of the Baroque's dignified seriousness and high grandeur.
Music
In music, the galant emphasis was on simplicity, immediacy of appeal, and elegance.
Fashion
In fashion, galant featured perfumed
handkerchief
A handkerchief (; also called a hankie or, historically, a handkercher or a ) is a form of a kerchief or bandanna, typically a hemmed square of thin fabric which can be carried in the pocket or handbag for personal hygiene purposes such as w ...
s and
powdered wigs for both sexes.
The fantastic exotic asymmetry of
bizarre silk
Bizarre silks are a style of figured silk fabrics popular in Europe in the late 17th and early 18th centuries. Bizarre silks are characterized by large-scale, asymmetrical patterns featuring geometrical shapes and stylized leaves and flowers, in ...
patterns were symptomatic of galant tastes.
References
External links
{{wiktionary-inline, Galant
18th century in art
18th-century literature
18th century in music