The Dinner Claude Oscar Monet (1840-1926)
Claude Oscar Monet – The Dinner
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Painter: Claude Oscar Monet
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Claude Monet is a French impressionist painter of the 19th century, his paintings have enjoyed well-deserved love for several generations of people who know the price of true art. The Dinner was painted in 1869, in the artist’s manner of sketching details, paying attention to absolutely every detail, from the pitcher to the plates decorating the shelf above the fireplace. The canvas which came out from under the artist’s brush turned out quite peaceful and ordinary, but it is no less beautiful and even original.
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Description of Claude Monet’s painting Lunch
Claude Monet is a French impressionist painter of the 19th century, his paintings have enjoyed well-deserved love for several generations of people who know the price of true art. The Dinner was painted in 1869, in the artist’s manner of sketching details, paying attention to absolutely every detail, from the pitcher to the plates decorating the shelf above the fireplace.
The canvas which came out from under the artist’s brush turned out quite peaceful and ordinary, but it is no less beautiful and even original. The foreground of the painting is occupied by a family dining at a large round table - a mother, a father, an adult son and a small child, it is not clear whether it is a boy or a girl.
The faces of the main characters are lit by a large beautiful lamp, whose light, however, is not enough to illuminate the corners of the large room, so the face of the maid approaching with a plate of food remains invisible to the viewer. The family dines with dignity, no one speaks, and everyone is terribly engrossed in the process of consuming their food.
The fire in the fireplace burns hot, the glare of which casts a shadow on the people sitting at the table. The simplicity of this painting is striking, ordinary people, sitting at a very ordinary meal, after a long day.
The maid in the painting suggests that the family has a certain social status, with only the child comfortably seated in the child’s high chair behaving freely, while the others adhere to the accepted rules of decorum, which cannot be overlooked in the detailed study of the way the woman brings the spoon to her mouth and the way the man turned his back to the viewer sits upright.
There is absolutely nothing remarkable in the picture at first glance, but that is the whole point - to portray what everyone is used to taking for commonplace in colors and to put it on display, what could be more remarkable.
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The individuals seated at the table are rendered with a degree of anonymity; their faces are partially obscured or turned away from the viewer, preventing direct engagement and fostering a feeling of detachment. The man closest to the foreground is positioned with his back largely visible, reinforcing this sense of distance and perhaps suggesting a reluctance to participate in the shared moment. The woman seated opposite him appears to be engaged in conversation, yet her expression remains ambiguous. A younger child sits on one side, seemingly absorbed in their own thoughts or actions.
The color palette is muted, primarily consisting of browns, ochres, and deep reds, which contribute to a somber and introspective atmosphere. The brushwork is loose and expressive, lending the scene a sense of immediacy and spontaneity while simultaneously softening the edges and blurring details. This technique prevents sharp definition and encourages an impressionistic reading of the subject matter.
Subtly, the painting conveys a feeling of unease or unspoken tension within the family dynamic. The lack of direct eye contact, the obscured faces, and the general air of quiet contemplation suggest a disconnect between the individuals present. The warm lighting and cozy setting contrast with this underlying sense of emotional distance, creating a complex interplay of comfort and melancholy. One might interpret the scene as an exploration of familial relationships, highlighting the complexities of communication and connection within a seemingly ordinary domestic environment. The placement of objects – the partially filled dishes on the table, the indistinct details in the background – further contribute to this feeling of something left unsaid or unresolved.