Final answer:
Thomas Couture's 'Romans of the Decadence' is associated with Neoclassicism, characterized by moralistic themes and a classical style that opposed the sensual Rococo movement and the emotionally charged Romanticism.
Step-by-step explanation:
Thomas Couture's Romans of the Decadence from 1847 is traditionally associated with the artistic movement of Neoclassicism. This movement emerged as a response to the perceived decadence of the Rococo style and sought to portray subjects with moral, instructive values through clarity, logic, and order, emphasizing line over color. Though Romans of the Decadence was created during the time period when Romanticism was prevalent, the classical style and moralizing subject matter of Couture's painting align it more closely with Neoclassical ideals.
Neoclassicism looked back to the art of classical antiquity and the rationalism of the Enlightenment for inspiration, positioning itself in opposition to the fleeting moments and emotional extremes often depicted in Romantic works. Artists like Jacques-Louis David and Jean-Auguste-Dominique Ingres were key figures in the Neoclassical movement, which also influenced later artists such as Paul Cézanne. Couture's painting, despite the controversy it inspired, fits within this school of thought by portraying a historically moralizing scene that serves to caution against excess and moral decay.