After the Luncheon, Auguste Renoir (1879)
In the arbour of a Parisian restaurant, an abundant meal is drawing to a close. The actress Ellen Andrée has taken the last sip of her after-dinner drink; lost in thought, she clings to its lingering taste. One of Renoir’s models is perched on the back of the bench and watches expectantly as the artist’s brother lights a cigarette with obvious satisfaction. There is a lull in the otherwise lively conversation. With great mastery, Renoir has captured the ephemeral impression on canvas in a seemingly spontaneous “snapshot”.
