The debate on luxury in eighteenth-century Paris: Social stratification and its influence on the arts (France)

In eighteenth-century France, the debate on luxury that emerged viewed luxury in a totally new context, transforming its meaning. Luxury came to be viewed by some not as a vice, but as a unique commodity, the social consequences of which could be analyzed.; These social consequences include a 'confounding of rank' that was rapidly occurring in Paris. Many historians link the debate on luxury and the increased consumption of luxury goods to the breakdown of social ranks that accelerated during and after the Regency (1715-1723).; There was a simultaneous critique of the current artistic style, known as the Rococo. Although the critics list numerous grievances with stylistic issues, there must be more factors contributing to this harsh critique. This paper links the debate on luxury to the critique of the Rococo. I argue that the breakdown of social structures was a factor in the Rococo critique.