A Game of Piquet 1861

Editor: Meissonier’s "A Game of Piquet," painted in 1861 with oil paints, is incredibly detailed. The artist captures a tense moment, as this group is surrounding a table. Everyone seems to be either completely engrossed in the card game or intently watching. How does its focus on historical details speak to its broader cultural context? Curator: That's an excellent observation. Meissonier was incredibly meticulous, a trait lauded by the rising middle class who saw value in precision and detail. Consider how genre and history painting became increasingly popular in the 19th century, fueled by burgeoning national identities and romanticized visions of the past. Meissonier provided meticulously rendered glimpses into these bygone eras, appealing to a desire for both historical understanding and aesthetic pleasure. It makes you think, doesn't it, about the social function of art? How was Meissonier using history to maybe speak to contemporary French society? Editor: So, it's not just about depicting the past accurately, but also about how that depiction reflects the values of his time. Is the realism in this artwork supposed to have any message behind it? Curator: Precisely. Realism, as a movement, isn't just about optical accuracy. It’s a deliberate choice to represent the world in a particular way. The intense detail almost elevates the scene, ennobling something as mundane as a card game, and in effect celebrating a specifically bourgeois idea of leisure and refinement through detailed displays of wealth. Consider the political climate in France at the time: the rise of the bourgeoisie and its influence on artistic taste. Editor: I see, it is speaking more about his society than the scene presented, but it does that by talking about a time long gone. It’s all in that visual detail! Curator: Exactly! The way the history is meticulously recreated tells us more about the values and aspirations of his contemporary audience than of that period’s. Thanks for your question, it gives much to think about.