Elevenses 1884

Albert Edelfelt painted this scene of two women taking tea, sometime near the turn of the century. Edelfelt was a Finnish painter, who came from a Swedish-speaking aristocratic family. Here, he depicts a moment of leisure and intimacy that seems to reflect the increasing social freedoms among women in the late 19th century. We see a woman dressed in red casually pouring tea for a companion, while a second woman looks on attentively, dressed in a black high necked dress. There is a notable intimacy that the painting captures, a space where women could engage in conversation and companionship. Edelfelt himself expressed that he aimed to portray “people as they are.” In Elevenses, he seems to capture a naturalistic portrayal of upper class women in a private, unguarded moment, as he subtly challenges traditional representations and celebrates the nuances of female connection. This painting invites us to reflect on the personal dimensions of social change, and how relationships shape our lives.