Le Dîner à l'auberge 1917 - 1922

Jean-Émile Laboureur made this striking ink drawing, Dinner at the Inn, sometime in the early 20th Century. The approach is graphic, almost architectural, like he’s building a world from hatched lines. There’s a great economy of means in how Laboureur describes the scene. The stark contrast between the white paper and the dense ink creates a palpable tension. Look how he renders the folds of the woman’s dress with just a few, carefully placed strokes. It’s as though he’s inviting us to complete the image with our own imaginations. Then look at the plates on the table: some have food, some don’t. Each is defined with a series of lines which feel more like suggestions than delineations. This drawing reminds me of the work of Picasso, who used very similar techniques. It's all part of an ongoing conversation in art history about how we see and interpret the world around us. Ultimately, the beauty of art lies in its ambiguity. It's never just one thing; it's always open to interpretation.