An After Dinner at Ornans is an 1848 painting by French realist artist Gustave Courbet. It is located in the Palais des Beaux-Arts in Lille, France.
Analysis of An After Dinner at Ornans
Here we see the elevation of the humble peasant life to the level of a subject worthy of a large canvas at a time when classical academic art still had a stranglehold on prevailing taste in France. Not only in subject matter but in style is this picture unassuming.
We see no pyramidal or frieze-like (with figures and objects drawn on the same plane across the space) composition here but a seeming jumble of an arrangement or perhaps rather a lateral wave between the men relaxing after their meal. This is not theatrical or staged but is informal.
In addition, there are in the men’s attitudes quite differing degrees of attention paid to the violin player – the elderly man on the left, said to be Gustave Courbet’s own father, slumps half-asleep. The man to his left pays full attention to the music resting his head on his hand. The man to his left with his back to us seems to divide his attention between listening and smoking while the player is completely absorbed in his playing.
The man with his back to us is central in the picture, showing Courbet in defiance of artistic tradition by denying us the sight of a central character’s face and denying us an invitation.
Painting of everyday life throughout art history
The depiction of everyday life has been a significant theme throughout art history. From the early representations of daily life in ancient civilizations to the contemporary works of modern artists, artists have used painting as a means of capturing and representing the world around them.
In ancient civilizations such as Egypt and Greece, artists often depicted daily life in their artworks. For example, the ancient Egyptians created tomb paintings that depicted scenes of everyday life, such as farming, hunting, and cooking. In ancient Greece, artists often depicted scenes of everyday life in their paintings, including images of people at work, at home, and participating in cultural events.
During the Renaissance, artists continued to explore the theme of everyday life. Painters such as Jan van Eyck and Johannes Vermeer created detailed and realistic representations of everyday scenes. Vermeer, in particular, was known for his paintings of domestic interiors, which often featured women engaged in everyday tasks such as sewing or reading.
In the 19th century, the emergence of realism as an artistic movement led to an increased interest in painting scenes of everyday life. Artists such as Gustave Courbet and Jean-Francois Millet sought to capture the realities of everyday life for the working class, depicting scenes of rural laborers, factory workers, and other ordinary people.
In the 20th century, the theme of everyday life continued to be explored by artists working in a variety of styles. The Cubist movement, led by artists such as Pablo Picasso and Georges Braque, sought to break down everyday objects and scenes into their basic geometric shapes. Meanwhile, artists such as Edward Hopper and Grant Wood depicted scenes of American life in their paintings, including images of diners, gas stations, and small towns.
In more recent times, artists such as David Hockney and Lucian Freud have continued to explore the theme of everyday life in their work. Hockney, for example, has created paintings that depict everyday scenes such as swimming pools, while Freud has created portraits of people in everyday settings, such as sitting in a chair or lying on a couch.
In conclusion, the theme of everyday life has been a significant topic throughout art history. Artists have used painting to capture and represent the world around them, from the ancient civilizations of Egypt and Greece to contemporary artists working today. Through their paintings, these artists have offered a glimpse into the lives of people throughout history, showcasing the beauty and complexity of everyday life.