The Luncheon: Decorative Panel

The Luncheon is a painting made in 1874 by Claude Monet, leader of the Impressionist movement. The painting was exhibited at the second Impressionist exhibition in 1876 with the title "Decorative Panel".

Monet depicts his sunny garden in his home in Argenteuil, after a meal. There is a table abandoned by the guests. The basket of fruit, the pieces of bread, the half-empty wine glasses, the cups and the coffee pot show that a lunch has taken place here. On the floor, a little boy, Jean Monnet, one of the painter's sons, is busy playing. In the distance, two women are walking.

A peaceful atmosphere emanates from the scene, that of a peaceful family life. Monet's main concern is to express the present moment. Certain details testify to this, such as the umbrella left on the bench or the hat hanging on a tree branch.

As an impressionist painter, Monet experimented with the split brushstroke, thanks to which he tried to render the vibrating effects of light. He executed his painting in the open air to best transcribe all the transient and fleeting states of nature. Thus, the colors may surprise: the white tablecloth is in fact made up of a juxtaposition of yellow, white and pink touches. Monet seeks to reproduce a colored vision. He gives an account of his impression, and not of things as they are in reality.