Dejeuner Du Salon 

Editor: Okay, next up is “Dejeuner Du Salon” by Jean-André Rixens. It's an oil painting, a real hustle-bustle scene. So much going on! It’s like a party, or some special event. Very lively. What leaps out at you, seeing this piece? Curator: Well, immediately, I feel invited, don’t you? It's almost aggressively inclusive, like, "Hey, you! Yeah, you, with the headphones! Get in here, the champagne's cold!" I get this sense that it's both staged – like a snapshot of high society – and entirely chaotic, spontaneous. Almost impressionistic, wouldn't you say? The way the light hits... Are we sure of the date on this one? It's giving me mixed signals! Editor: There isn’t a specific date listed, so that might be right! I see the impressionistic light too. It's an outdoor event? I do wonder what exactly *is* happening? It feels important...or is it just performative, rich people showing off wealth and privilege? Curator: Ah, the eternal question, isn't it? Are we looking at genuine joy, or just a really well-funded imitation of it? Perhaps Rixens wants us to ponder that very dilemma! Are we supposed to be envious of this gathering, or slightly repulsed? That's what lingers, for me. It's more than just a record of a fancy lunch. It's asking us, almost whispering, "Is this it? Is this all there is?" Heavy thoughts for a brunch! Editor: I agree, it definitely provokes thought. The "showy" and "repulsed" perspectives help bring the painting into focus. I hadn't thought of that! Curator: Art should feel like a splash of cold water to the face sometimes, shouldn't it? Makes you feel gloriously, wonderfully…awake.