Charles Lenoir

Paris, Salon de la société des artistes français, 1893, no. 1104, illustrated in the catalogue

Original canvas. There are scattered areas of retouching visible under ultraviolet light, notably to the hair of the female figure, the centre of the left side and along the left of the extreme lower edge. Apart from scattered spots of very fine craquelure and some light frame rubbing along the extreme lower edge, this work is in very good condition, with rich colours and fine detail and ready to hang. Held in its original giltwood frame bearing a name plate.
"In response to your inquiry, we are pleased to provide you with a general report of the condition of the property described above. Since we are not professional conservators or restorers, we urge you to consult with a restorer or conservator of your choice who will be better able to provide a detailed, professional report. Prospective buyers should inspect each lot to satisfy themselves as to condition and must understand that any statement made by Sotheby's is merely a subjective, qualified opinion. Prospective buyers should also refer to any Important Notices regarding this sale, which are printed in the Sale Catalogue.
NOTWITHSTANDING THIS REPORT OR ANY DISCUSSIONS CONCERNING A LOT, ALL LOTS ARE OFFERED AND SOLD AS IS" IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE CONDITIONS OF BUSINESS PRINTED IN THE SALE CATALOGUE."

In this moonlit vignette of bohemian life, in its original frame, two lovers stand by the window of their Parisian garret overlooking the city, calling to mind Rodolfe and Mimi in Henri Murger's Scènes de la vie bohème, published in 1851 and the inspiration for Puccini's eponymous opera. The man wears the smock and loose black satin tie often worn by painters at the time, evoking the proverbial penniless artist living in a humble apartment or atelier mansardé, in search of public recognition, fame and fortune.

The nocturnal shade of blue-green pervading the composition is evocative of the colour of absinthe, a fashionable drink in the bohemian quarters of Paris at the end of the nineteenth century. This anise-flavoured spirit inspired numerous painters of the time, most notably Edouard Manet (Le buveur d'absinthe, 1876) and Edgar Degas (l'Absinthe, 1876), but also writers such as Ernest Hemingway and Paul Verlaine.