Artwork
After the Luncheon
After the Luncheon is an oil painting by the Impressionist artist Auguste Renoir. It dates from 1890 and is held in the collection of the Städel Museum.
About this work
Notice how the brushstrokes are thick and visible, giving the scene a lively, almost textured look.
Three people sit at a table in what looks like a café or garden. The woman on the left wears a light hat and a pale dress, holding a small bouquet. The woman next to her has a dark hat and lace collar, smiling slightly. The man on the right is lighting a cigarette, with a half-empty teacup in front of him. The table is cluttered with plates, cups, and a sugar bowl.
Notice how the brushstrokes are thick and visible, giving the scene a lively, almost textured look. This painting was made in 1879.
This technique is called impasto.
Overview
After the Luncheon, an oil painting by Pierre‑Auguste Renoir dated to the early 1890s, presents a relaxed gathering of three figures seated around a small table. The work is part of the collection of the Städel Museum in Frankfurt, where it is displayed as an example of Renoir’s late‑period portraiture.
Subject & Meaning
The composition features a young woman in a light hat and pale dress clutching a modest bouquet, a second woman in a darker hat with a lace‑trimmed collar offering a faint smile, and a gentleman on the right who is in the act of lighting a cigarette while a half‑filled teacup rests before him. The informal setting suggests a post‑meal moment in a café or garden, emphasizing everyday leisure.
Technique & Style
Renoir employs a pronounced impasto technique, applying thick, tactile brushstrokes that give the surface a lively, almost three‑dimensional quality. The visible paint layers capture the fleeting play of light on fabric and tableware, reinforcing the painter’s interest in immediacy and atmospheric effect.
History & Provenance
Created around 1890, the painting entered the Städel Museum’s holdings through acquisition in the early 20th century, though precise details of its earlier ownership remain sparse. Its presence in the museum’s collection underscores the institution’s focus on French Impressionist works.
Context
During the late 1880s and early 1890s Renoir turned increasingly toward intimate interior scenes and portraiture, moving away from the open‑air landscapes of his earlier career. After the Luncheon reflects this shift, combining a social tableau with the artist’s mature handling of color and form.
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Artist & collection
Artist
Pierre-Auguste Renoir was born on 25 February 1841 in Limoges, the son of a tailor and a seamstress.
