Au café, dit l’Absinthe 1909

Curator: This is Jean Béraud’s “Au café, dit l’Absinthe,” painted in 1909. It’s an oil on canvas that depicts a rather tense-looking couple at a cafe. Editor: My first thought is that the mood in this painting is quite somber and thick, like the air hangs heavy between these two. It almost feels like overhearing a conversation you wish you hadn't. Curator: I think you’re spot on with the atmosphere. Béraud often depicted Parisian life, especially the social interactions within the city. This scene feels incredibly modern, capturing a specific kind of urban alienation. It's a world of private struggles being played out in very public places. Editor: There's something so striking about the woman’s vacant gaze, she’s right next to the man, but worlds apart. Her elaborate hat is fascinating too, it seems like she’s dressing the part for a public stage even if her spirit feels quite dimmed. Do you think the choice of setting, the cafe, plays into the theme of the artwork? Curator: Absolutely, the café in late 19th and early 20th century Paris was a stage in itself, a crucial social hub for the modern flaneur and flaneuse. But there's a strong undercurrent of isolation as well. People were perhaps more connected physically but the individual disconnection seemed amplified, heightened in a public venue, like a counterpoint. It's hard to tell what happened before or what’s about to come but everything just sits stagnant in this snapshot. Editor: You can really feel the sense of transition captured here, with the style and details walking a line between Impressionism and Realism, showing both an intimate and impersonal relationship between these people and with their social surroundings. Is it meant to portray their psychological isolation from each other, or perhaps highlight certain issues during that time? Curator: It is believed that alcoholism, especially the abuse of absinthe, was on the rise in French society during that time. This artwork may simply represent this new social phenomenon that’s taking place in a public venue as a place for social interaction and an individual disconnect with each other at the same time. Editor: Indeed, “Au cafe, dit l’Absinthe” offers a fascinating study into modern alienation amidst the backdrop of Parisian cafe society. Curator: Béraud's painting prompts reflections on the complexity of human connection, and how societal spaces are constantly shifting.