Artwork
In the Café
In the Café is an oil painting by the American Impressionist artist Fernand Lungren. It dates from 1883 and is held in the collection of the Art Institute of Chicago.
About this work
Overview
In the Café is a painting by Fernand Lungren, created using oil on canvas. It depicts a woman sitting alone in a Parisian café.
Subject & Meaning
The subject is a fashionably dressed woman, seated alone and appearing alert. Her presence in the café reflects the changing social landscape of modern Paris, where women were increasingly able to enjoy leisure time in public.
Technique & Style
Lungren's style is characterized by dense, hard-edged brushwork. The painting showcases his interest in capturing the effects of light, including both gas and electric illumination, a concern shared with French Impressionist artists.
History & Provenance
Fernand Lungren traveled to Paris in 1882, where he briefly studied at the Académie Julian before opting for direct observation of the city and its inhabitants.
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Artist & collection
Artist
Fernand Lungren (1857–1932) was an American painter and illustrator. He is mostly known for his paintings of American Southwestern landscapes and scenes (in California, New Mexico, Arizona) as well as for his earlier…
