Art, My Mother, and Myself
How one painting and time helped me better understand my mother
Renoir’s masterful ‘The Luncheon of the Boating Party’ is the centerpiece of the entire Phillips collection. At my mother’s request we traveled to this small, private museum off DuPont Circle and far from the national mall mainly to see it. I note her suddenly upbeat outlook and happy smile as soon as we enter this gallery and catch a glimpse of the painting. “What do you like so much about at?” I ask. “It’s so full of life!” she says, her eyes bright. She stands in front of it, moves closer, then off to a slight angle.
Untrained in art then, the painting did not especially catch my eye, but she had a degree in fine arts, and if this is her favorite…I pay closer attention.
Like all of Renoir’s art, the bright, vivid colors fairly leap off the wall, still drawing your eye toward it even after 100 years. It is a lively scene — a cross section of Paris society enjoying a sunny afternoon on the Seine. The fourteen attendees, friends of the artist, are young, attractive, well-groomed, and seem to be enjoying life. Most are deep in conversation. One woman pampers her dog at the table, and one man stands alone, studying the scene. The table is spread with wine bottles and delicious-looking fruit. It is the glassware that I particularly notice — the way it is captured. It reflects and…
