Absinthe drinkers 1908

Editor: Jean Béraud's "Absinthe Drinkers," created around 1908 using oil paint, captures a quiet scene in a Parisian cafe. The woman looks listless. I'm interested in how Béraud depicts leisure and its possible darker sides here... what jumps out at you? Curator: This painting, for me, screams social commentary on production and labor. Observe the raw materiality of the bar: its worn surface speaks volumes about the countless hands that have passed over it. The absinthe itself – consider its creation, from cultivation of wormwood to its distillation, to the cultural associations surrounding consumption. Don’t you think this artwork frames absinthe drinking not merely as an act of leisure, but as one embedded in a vast network of labour? Editor: Absolutely, I didn’t initially connect leisure with labor. Looking closer, even their clothing subtly indicates class – the woman's elaborate hat contrasting with the man's simple bowler, potentially reflecting different positions within that social production system you mentioned? Curator: Precisely. Even the medium of oil paint itself carries historical weight, doesn’t it? Think about the tradition it represents, who had access to it, and how Béraud manipulates it here. Notice how the visible brushstrokes add to this effect, contrasting "high art" and an almost documentary approach? Editor: Yes, the painting challenges traditional high/low distinctions. The choice of subject matter itself – everyday life, the imbibing of a now notorious beverage – democratizes the artistic subject, making a statement about what's worthy of representation. Curator: Exactly. Considering it as more than just "a scene" and understanding what materials went into making and circulating it gives a clearer reading, wouldn't you agree? Editor: It shifts everything. Thinking about labor and social structure really changes how I see what’s happening. Curator: Indeed, it reveals a deeper narrative, beyond surface impressions.