Au Café c. 1920

Editor: So, this is Jean-Louis Forain's "Au Café," made around 1920, using oil paint. It feels…gritty. I’m struck by the loose brushstrokes and the darkness of the scene. How do you interpret this work? Curator: Looking at Forain's “Au Café”, I'm drawn to its portrayal of labor and the social environment of the cafe. Observe how the application of paint itself conveys the weariness. The visible brushstrokes suggest a speed and efficiency of production. What materials, beyond the oil paint itself, might be at play here in constructing the social reality of the cafe? Editor: I guess the clothing? The woman’s fancy dress and the men's formal wear seem to signify different roles and maybe economic classes in this setting. It also affects the space differently: the painting almost centers around this single woman. Curator: Precisely. The cafe becomes a stage, a site of display and perhaps, economic transaction. Think about the labor involved not just in the creation of the artwork, but in the performances and appearances within the café itself. Are these people working for their money, or consuming other people’s labor in return? What does that imply? Editor: That’s really interesting. I hadn’t thought about the performance aspect and how that is work too. It does make you wonder about the relationship between the people in the painting, especially regarding the woman. Curator: The material reality of that exchange shapes their interactions and positions them within a social hierarchy. This piece prompts us to consider the processes, materials, and power dynamics at play in even a seemingly simple scene. Editor: I see how thinking about the material aspects, like the clothes and the way the paint is applied, opens up a conversation about the labor and social dynamics of the time. Thanks!