Le Dîner à l'auberge 1917 - 1922

Jean-Émile Laboureur made this etching titled 'Le Dîner à l'auberge'. It's all in these stark, linear marks that define the forms, a kind of precision that still lets a lot of feeling in, you know? The material's almost entirely graphic. It’s built from lines, it’s about the rhythm of these marks that bring the scene to life, and I keep coming back to the woman near the window. The way her body is shaped, almost like a soft S, and the light seems to cling to her. It's like she's trying to escape out of the scene. And the window itself, framing the scene, it suggests a world beyond, doesn’t it? It reminds me a little of Edward Hopper, in the way the image captures this fleeting moment. It’s not just a meal, but a silent, introspective moment. Art's always in dialogue, this one speaks of unspoken stories and quiet observation.