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''Interpreting the expression of identity using philosophies and belief systems changes the representation''

Le déjeuner sur l'herbe, 1863. Edouard Manet (1832-1883). Oil on canvas, 208 x 264.5 cm. Musée d'Orsay, RF 1668.

Le déjener sur L’herbe

Manet’s Le déjeuner sur L’herbe is the original from the 1860s that has

inspired dozens of reinterpretationsreinterpretations over the past 150 years.

The work caused quite a stir at the Salons des Salons des RefusRefusééss in 1863. At the time it

was not acceptable to have nudes depicted in contemporary settings,

although it was acceptable to have nudes depicted in allegoricalallegorical settings

or as mythological creatures such as nymphs.

In this painting the female model does not conform to these traditional ideas

and she is also looking straight at the viewer which was frowned upon

since nude models usually averted their gaze to show their shame at being

nude. This was the first time that a painting showed a nude female sitter

with clothed male sitters.

Another controversy was it’s size since 7 by 8,5 feet was too large to make it a

genre painting. Usually these big sized canvasses were only used by artists to

depict biblical, religious, mythological or historical stories of importance.

Manet used Victorine Meurent as a model in this painting. She appeared

frequently in his paintings. The 2 men are Manet his brother in law and his

younger brother. The fact that the sitters were so recognizable also affronted

viewers at the time. These were not anonymous muses. The were real

individuals shown in a explicit scene.

The 2 men seem to be engaged in a conversation,

ignoring the nude women sitting next to them.

The lightly clad woman in the background is too

large when compared to the three figures in

the foreground. She also seems to be floating.

Since the background is crudely painted, the

viewer gets the impression that the painting

was painted indoors.

The painting also shows ‘photographic lighting’

which does not cast much shadow and also

eliminated mid-tone colors. Overall the lighting

of the scene is unnatural as well as inconsisted.

ReinterpretationsFollowing are various artists thathave re-interpreted Manet’s painting.

Le déjeuner sur’l’herbe by Claude Monet is in the Permanent collectionof the Musée D’Orsay.

ReinterpretationsLike many artists, Picasso looked to the history of art forinspiration. From the late 1940s to the early 1960s he focusedwith particular intensity onindividual works by past masters, making variations in painting, drawing, sculpture and prints.

The work of these historicfigures had a catalyticcatalytic impact on Picasso at a time whencontemporarycontemporary artart, the variousforms of Abstract Abstract ExpressionismExpressionism was going in directions counter to his ownaestheticaesthetic concerns.

Reinterpretations

Pablo Picasso (1961)

The painting Luncheonon the grass by ‘ÉdouardManet was the startingpoint for an extensiveseries by Picasso, including twenty-sevenpaintings, one hunderdand fifty drawings, eighteen maquettes and five prints.

Reinterpretations

Reinterpretations

ReinterpretationsA different type of appropriationappropriation of L’déjeuner sur l’herbecan ben seen on the album cover for The last of the Mohicans byBow wow wow. The Brand initially plannedusing the photographfor the cover of SeeJungle. The photograph causedquited somecommotion due to the underage singer, Annabella Lwin, posingnude.

Reinterpretations

Caroline Michele Sylvi’e (2000)

Reinterpretations

Yona Friedaman (2003)

Reinterpretations

Julie Rrap (2002)

Reinterpretations

Mickalene Thomas (2009)

Reinterpretations

Richard Colescott (1979)

Reinterpretations

Alain Jacquet (1964)

Reinterpretations

Rip Hokins (2006)

ReinterpretationsGeorge Lappas (2006)

• Can you think of any other paintings or other artworks that have been re-interpreted just like Manet’s Le déjeuner sur’l’herbe?

• Maybe you can even think of artworks that were used for album covers?

These numerous examples of artworks inspired by a single painting demonstrate how artists constantly look backwards forinspiration. The Wiley is an excellent example of modern interpretation of an old master work. By starting with a powerfulimage that has held its own over the centuries, many artistempower their own visions and messages.

• What do you think about this theme of appropriation?

• Does it make the resulting artworks more original? Less?

• What are the pros and cons?

Bibliography• Lintern, Curatoria. "Reinterpreted Artworks: Le Déjeuner Sur L’Herbe by Edouard

Manet." New Britain Museum of American Art Where Art Meets Life. World Press, 27 Apr. 2010. Web. 31 July 2014.

• Haight, Roger. "Seward Johnson - Dejeuner Deja Vu." YouTube. YouTube, 12 June 2010. Web. 31 July 2014. <http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S79aEMoZHmM>.

• "Looking at Paintings." YouTube. Getty Museum, 09 Feb. 2012. Web. 01 Aug. 2014. <https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jm8Sva2hnvY>.

• "The Skill of Describing." YouTube. Khan Academy, 17 Mar. 2012. Web. 01 Aug. 2014. <https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h_pWZBOR4ec>.

• Rolling, J. H. (2011). Bernard Williams: Art as reinterpretation, identity as art. In T. Quinn, J. Ploof, & L. Hochtritt (Eds.) Art and Social Justice in Art Education: Culture as Commons (pp. 68-70). New York, NY: Routledge.

• Johnson, Pearlie M. "Reinterpretations of African Cultural Traditions in African American Fabric Arts."The Journal of Pan African Studies 6.10 (2014): 167-84. Web. 1 Aug. 2014.