Uitnodiging voor een diner ter ere van Marcellin Desboutin before 1896

This is 'Uitnodiging voor een diner ter ere van Marcellin Desboutin', made by Georges de Feure in 1895. De Feure’s artistic work occurred in the context of the late 19th century in France, during a time when the cultural and artistic scenes were deeply intertwined with social hierarchies. Here we see an invitation to a dinner honoring Marcellin Desboutin, and it is fascinating to see how class, artistic recognition, and gender intersect. The elegant woman reading the invitation, adorned with flowers, embodies the feminine ideals of the era, while also hinting at the social circles that celebrated artistic achievement. The dinner itself, costing 5 francs, was clearly intended for an elite group. The Art Nouveau style suggests a move towards modernity, yet the event’s exclusive nature reinforces existing class structures. This piece prompts us to consider the relationship between art, class, and gender at the time. It reveals who was invited to the table, both literally and figuratively, within the art world.