Rococo was an 18th century art style originating in France as a successor to the Baroque era during a period of optimism in the Age of Enlightenment. It emphasized light, ornate, and irregular decorative designs especially used for interior painting, architecture, and sculpture. Associated with King Louis XV's reign, prominent Rococo artists included Jean-Honoré Fragonard, Jean-Antoine Watteau, and François Boucher, known for works like The Swing, La Surprise, and The Birth of Venus.