Shop art print and framed art Luncheon on the Grass by Edouard Manet

Luncheon on the Grass : A scandal turned masterpiece

Edouard Manet's Luncheon on the Grass is an imposing oil on canvas (207 x 265 cm) housed at the Musée d'Orsay in Paris. Completed in 1863, this work marked a turning point in the history of art, provoking a resounding scandal when it was first exhibited. Far from being a simple country scene, this complex and daring painting challenged the artistic conventions of the time and paved the way for modern painting.

Luncheon on the Grass: a context of rupture in the Second Empire

To understand the shock provoked by Luncheon on the Grass, we need to go back to the artistic context of the Second Empire. At the time, academic painting dominated, imposing noble subjects (history, mythology, religion) and a smooth, idealized style. In order to realize Luncheon on the Grass, Manet, on the other hand, was inspired by everyday reality and old masters such as Titian or Raphaël. In particular, he takes up the composition of Titian's Concert champêtre and Raphael's Jugement de Pâris, but transposes these mythological themes into a contemporary setting. This blend of genres, this daring modernity, was to upset codes and disconcert the public. Rejected at the official Salon of 1863, Luncheon on the Grass was finally exhibited at the Salon des Refusés, created by Napoleon III, under the advice of Viollet-le-Duc, to accommodate rejected works.

Luncheon on the Grass: a bold composition

The painting depicts a picnic scene in an undergrowth. In the foreground, a nude woman sits alongside two men dressed as bourgeois of the period. Behind them, another scantily clad woman is bathing in a stream. The pyramidal composition highlights the central group, while the harsh light and contrasting colors accentuate the realism of the scene. Manet breaks with the conventions of perspective and modeling, favoring flat tints of color and simplified treatment of forms. This innovative, sketch-like technique contributes to the impression of spontaneity and modernity that emanates from the work.

The central subject of Luncheon on the Grass: a provocation?

The painting's main subject, a nude woman having lunch with two clothed men, was perceived as provocative at the time. The absence of any mythological or allegorical justification for this nudity shocked contemporaries, accustomed to idealized representations of the female body. The nude woman, gazing confidently at the viewer, seems to defy moral and social conventions. Her identity has long been debated, but it is now accepted that she is Victorine Meurent, Manet's favorite model. The two men are his brother Gustave and brother-in-law Ferdinand Leenhoff. The scene, far from being an idealized representation of nature, suggests a certain ambiguity, even a transgression of social norms.

Symbolism and interpretations of the Luncheon on the Grass

Luncheon on the Grass is rich in symbolism and lends itself to multiple interpretations. The still life in the foreground, with its fruit and overturned basket, evokes vanity and the passage of time. The interplay of glances between the figures suggests a certain tension, or even rivalry, in love. The naked woman, at once offered and inaccessible, perhaps embodies the figure of the modern woman, free and independent. Some critics see in it a critique of the bourgeoisie and its hypocrisy, others a reflection on desire and the representation of the feminine. Whatever the case, the work invites viewers to question social norms, artistic conventions and the place of women in society.

The impact of Manet's Luncheon on the Grass in art history

Luncheon on the Grass had a considerable impact on Manet's career and on art history in general. Considered a manifesto of modern painting, the painting paved the way for Impressionism and the art movements that followed. Manet, despite criticism and scandal, continued to explore new themes and techniques, asserting his independence and creative freedom. Luncheon on the Grass remains a major work today, continuing to fascinate and challenge viewers with its boldness and modernity.

This artwork is a painting from the classical period. It belongs to the impressionism style.

« Luncheon on the Grass » is kept at Musee d'Orsay, Paris, France.

Find the full description of Luncheon on the Grass by Edouard Manet on Wikipedia.