In the 18th century, the Rococo period arose in France as a response to the French Baroque style of rules, opulence, and decoration. It is situated in an era where the spheres between the roles of women and men were divided.
The Rococo period is a flourishing time for women because it helped women gain some freedom and equal opportunities as men. Additionally, it gave them the respect and opportunity to have a meaningful connotation in art. Marie Louise Élisabeth Vigée-Lebrun is a notable female artist who emerged during this era and greatly subsidized Rococo artwork.
The previous works portrayed women as nurturing and maternal figures and were used as an excuse to exclude them from public affairs. However, the Rococo era proved that women artists were just as talented as male artists.
The Enlightenment, which means a change in thinking, is a flourishing time for women as well. In the early 18th century, the Enlightenment produced the French salon and offered a place for both genders to assemble for scholarly dialogue.
Women worked as hostesses, produced discussion subjects, and monitored conversations in a society dominated by men. Salons did not only shape how females perceived influence and social status but enabled women to take authority in some issues of pleasure and taste.