Jean-Antoine Watteau (October 10, 1684 – July 18, 1721) is a French painter whose brief career spurs the revival of interest in color and movement (in the tradition of Correggio and Rubens), and revitalizes the waning Baroque idiom, which eventually becomes known as Rococo.

He is credited with inventing the genre of fêtes galantes: scenes of bucolic and idyllic charm, suffused with an air of theatricality.

Some of his best known subjects are drawn from the world of Italian comedy and ballet.