Under the Cedar 1908

Editor: Here we have Albert Maignan’s "Under the Cedar," painted in 1908. It seems to be a painting with figures in a landscape, maybe an Impressionistic take on a genre scene. The figures almost seem secondary to the scene overall. How would you interpret this work? Curator: Seeing this, I think it's vital to place "Under the Cedar" within the context of late 19th and early 20th century French society. The leisure of the bourgeoisie was becoming a prominent subject. Maignan depicts this through the lens of idyllic leisure, but also the codified roles and spaces available for women during this time. The very act of painting "en plein air" contributed to these developing ideas, but also influenced exhibition display choices. Considering where art was shown, to whom, and how, affects our perception of paintings like this. Editor: That’s interesting! I was mostly looking at the surface – the brushstrokes, the light, and composition. It seems so tranquil at first glance. Curator: Yes, the aesthetic qualities draw us in, certainly! But who gets to *be* tranquil? Whose lives allow for leisurely pauses under cedar trees? The painting arguably celebrates the privileges of a specific social class. And look closely: are the women *truly* relaxed, or are they carefully posing? What can this tell us? Editor: So, by examining the social context and exhibition practices, we can see that seemingly ‘peaceful’ images also reflect existing power structures of the period. Curator: Precisely! And the romanticism and impressionistic elements might function as a visual gloss to obscure some of these underpinnings. Reflecting on these issues opens this painting up to so many new questions! Editor: That really broadens my understanding of "Under the Cedar.” Thanks, I now know I need to consider this work with a different perspective, thinking more about how power and society are related to landscape paintings.