Dinner 1939

Caroline Wogan Durieux created this lithograph titled ‘Dinner’ in 1939, and it's like a masterclass in how to make the ordinary surreal. The scene, rendered in soft graphite, feels both familiar and utterly bizarre. I'm drawn to the way Durieux uses shading. It’s almost like she’s sculpting with the pencil, creating depth and texture that invite you into the room. Look at the way she renders the tablecloth, a delicate dance of tiny strokes that give it a palpable weight. The real star here is the chandelier, which resembles a sort of fantastical, many-branched flowering tree. Durieux captures the absurdity of formal social gatherings, hinting at the strange rituals we perform around the dinner table. It reminds me a bit of the social commentary you find in the work of Honoré Daumier, that same blend of wit and observation. I love how art lets us play with reality, bending it to reveal hidden truths.