Western Art Movements I Art Movements    

Lesson 31: Impressionism - Luncheon of the Boating Party (1881)

by Pierre-Auguste Renoir

Directions

Study the artwork for one week.

Over the week:

• Examine the artwork.
• Read the synopsis.
• Study the vocabulary words.
• Recite the artist and artwork names.
• Discuss the review questions.

Synopsis

In Pierre-Auguste Renoir's 1881 Impressionist painting 'Luncheon of the Boating Party,' a group of Renoir's friends gather under a striped awning. They've just enjoyed lunch at Maison Fournaise restaurant along the Seine river in Chatou, France. The nearest table is covered with bottles of wine, a small keg, grapes and other fruit, used glasses, and used cloth napkins. Around the table, one woman puckers her mouth as she coddles a small dog, a man sits on a backward chair, and a man leans over to converse with a seated woman. To the left, a man and a woman lean on a railing. Further back, two men talk to a woman in black who covers her ears with her gloved hands. A woman is caught mid-drink, and a man in a top hat talks with another man. Far beyond the luncheon party, shrubbery grows and sailboats coast along the river. From the title, the group may have already gone boating or about to join the boats out on the water.

Vocabulary

Awning: A roof-like cover, usually of canvas, extended over or before any place as a shelter from the sun, rain, or wind.
Coddle: To treat gently or with great care.
Keg: A round, traditionally wooden container of lesser capacity than a barrel, often used to store beer.

Concepts

Featured Movement:

1. Name - Impressionism
2. Timeline - approximately 1870s-1890s

Impressionism Characteristics and Subjects:

1. Everyday Life ('Hay Harvest at Éragny' by Camille Pissarro in 1901)

2. Visible Strokes of Color ('The Boulevard Montmartre at Night' by Camille Pissarro in 1897)

3. Play of Light ('Haystacks, (Sunset)' by Claude Monet in 1891)

4. Painted Outdoors (Real sand embedded in paint in 'Beach at Scheveningen in Stormy Weather' by Vincent van Gogh in 1882)

Enrichment

Activity 1: Can You Find It?

Find the following in the artwork:

• Renoir's Friends
• Someone Covering Their Ears
• Something Being Coddled
• Something Already Used
• Something Provided Shade
• Evidence of a Luncheon
• Someone Leaning on a Railing
• Someone Drinking
• Someone Sitting on a Backward Chair
• The Seine River

Activity 2: Narrate the Artwork

• After studying the artwork, narrate the scene shown aloud using your own words.

Activity 3: Classify the Artwork

• This artwork belongs to the Impressionist art movement.
• Find Impressionism on the timeline.
• During which (estimated) years did Impressionism flourish?
• Which art movement preceded Impressionism?
• Which art movement followed Impressionism?

Activity 4: Recreate the Artwork   

• Click the crayon above and complete page 34 of 'Fourth Grade Art History Coloring Book.'

Review

Question 1

Who are the characters in the artwork?

1 / 5

Answer 1

The characters are members of a boating party enjoying a luncheon.

1 / 5

Question 2

What is the setting of the artwork?

2 / 5

Answer 2

The setting is a balcony of the Maison Fournaise restaurant along the Seine river in Chatou, France.

2 / 5

Question 3

To which western art movement does this painting belong?

3 / 5

Answer 3

This painting belongs to the Impressionist art movement.

3 / 5

Question 4

How is this painting reflective of Impressionism?

4 / 5

Answer 4

This work was constructed with visible strokes of color and features everyday life.

4 / 5

Question 5

During which century was this artwork created?

5 / 5

Answer 5

Renoir painted this artwork in the 19th century.

5 / 5

❮ ❯

1. Who are the characters in the artwork? The characters are members of a boating party enjoying a luncheon.
2. What is the setting of the artwork? The setting is a balcony of the Maison Fournaise restaurant along the Seine river in Chatou, France.
3. To which western art movement does this painting belong? This painting belongs to the Impressionist art movement.
4. How is this painting reflective of Impressionism? This work was constructed with visible strokes of color and features everyday life.
5. During which century was this artwork created? Renoir painted this artwork in the 19th century.

References

'Luncheon of the Boating Party.' Wikipedia. Wikipedia.org. n.p.

'Impressionism.' Wikipedia. Wikipedia.org. n.p.