Rococo art, which thrived in early eighteenth-century France, was characterized by its lightness, elegance, and exuberant use of curving, natural forms. Unlike the serious, dramatic Baroque, Rococo prioritized pleasure and wit, focusing on themes of love, playfulness, and aristocratic leisure. The style was most prominent in interior decoration, where it utilized pastel colors, gold gilding, and mirrors to create airy, light-filled spaces. Critics of the time, however, dismissed the movement as shallow and morally decadent, arguing that it lacked the gravity required for true artistic achievement.