The Art Of Wine
/One of history's greatest pairings? Wine and art. They go together like Cabernet and steak. In fact, not just wine but drinking culture as a whole has been a prominent feature of some of the greatest artworks of our time. In the Art of Wine, we look at some of these artworks and their significance to us, the drinking class.
PIERRE AUGUSTE RENOIR - LUNCHEON OF THE BOATING PARTY
First off, who doesn't want to be at this party? It looks like the perfect way to spend a weekend. Second, for those who are unfamiliar with this painting, this is The Luncheon of the Boating Party by Renoir. It is one of my favorite paintings that celebrates drinking because it's so current. Renoir painted a bunch of his friends having a party. Renoir may as well have been posting this to his Instagram account. The Luncheon is fun, it's beautiful, it's the drinking class at it's finest.
The Characters
There are 14 people at this party and it's said that they were all friends of Renoir. We'll examine some of the people in this portrait, who they were and and how they fit into the scene.
First up, one of Renoir's good friends Gustave Caillebotte. History tells us that he was a fellow artist and somewhat of a playboy. In the painting, he holds the position as the life of the party. He is seated prominently in the front of the painting sitting on a backwards chair while wearing an undershirt. Message sent. This guy is the guy that makes the party go.
Next is the lady speaking with Gustave. Her name is Angèle and in real life she was an actress and an all time beauty. In the scene, she is in the seat of the instigator. I can envision this conversation as mildly flirtatious while keeping Gustave in his place. Her personality keeps the mood light and fun.
This next guy is my pretend favorite. His real name is Alphonse Fournaise, Jr., and he is the son of the proprietor where the party is taking place. His responsibilities were launching the boats. The girl to his right is his sister Alphonsine Fournaise, and she has the same job. To me though, this is the crazy guy in the bunch. Give him four glasses of wine and dare him to do something and he can't help but to try it. The famous last words "watch this" guy. I could envision him leaping into the river for a few laughs just moments after this scene took place.
Lastly, there is Aline Charigot. At the time this was painted, she was a seamstress and single, but she would later go on to marry Renoir. In the portrait, she is playing with a puppy and appears to be game for a laugh. She seems like the kind of person who is thrilled it's the weekend and won't have a care in the world until Monday. You can almost hear her say "I'm happy to be here with my friends enjoying this moment." I think it's telling how even though the actress is focused on Gustave, he gazes longingly at Aline. Innocent glances or the makings of a dramatic love triangle? You be the judge.
The Table And Venue
Some things just stand the test of time. Getting together with your friends by the river to have wine, cheese, fruits and a great time never goes out of style. Next to the beer garden and cafe seating, this is one of the finest examples of outdoor drinking culture. In this case, they are sitting on a patio by the Seine River in France, but they might as well be sitting by the San Francisco Bay having a bunch of oysters and some laughs. Looks like a great time.
The Drinking Class
Renoir gets the drinking class. Let's gather up all of our friends and head down to the river. We'll drink some wine, enjoy some great food and cause some trouble. Oh, and while I'm there I'll turn the scene into one of the best examples of Impressionist works of all time. It's brilliant. If staring at this for awhile doesn't make you want to crack a few bottles of wine down by the water, I don't know what will. In the Luncheon of the Boating Party Renoir shows us the youthful drinking class at its finest and invites us all to join in!
A View From An Art Historian
Written Analysis From An Art Historian
Ion Indolean wrote a wonderful essay that he uploaded to Academia.edu on the Luncheon Of The Boating Party which is worth a read.