Une Cuisine 1889

Maximilien Luce painted "Une Cuisine" using oil on canvas, in France, at a time when the role of women in society was slowly beginning to be questioned. Luce was associated with the Neo-Impressionist movement, using small, distinct dots of color to create an image, a technique also known as Pointillism. Though this was a progressive movement, it has, perhaps unintentionally, represented a deeply conservative image of gender roles. We see two women in a domestic setting, presumably preparing food, and in this way, the painting normalizes the idea of women in the kitchen. The image creates meaning through these visual codes, cultural references and historical associations. Further research into Luce’s social circle and the art institutions of the time may reveal why he chose to paint this particular scene. The meaning of art is contingent on its social and institutional context, and understanding this context can greatly enrich our interpretation.