Billiard Room at Ménil-Hubert
- Original dimensions
- 650 x 500 cm
- Museum
- Orsay Museum
- Year
- 1892
Scene depicted
This canvas depicts a lively billiard room, where characters enjoy a moment of conviviality. The players are frozen in their gestures, immersed in the playful atmosphere. The dim lights contrast with the bursts of laughter, offering a scene that is both intimate and sparkling, like a photograph of a stolen moment.
Historical context
Created in 1892, this remarkable painting is one of the privileged witnesses of a time when modernity asserts itself in Paris. Located in the heart of Normandy, the canvas depicts a fleeting moment in the billiard room of an establishment in Ménil-Hubert, revealing the play of light and colors characteristic of impressionism .
Place in the artist's career
Billiard Room at Ménil-Hubert represents a pivotal work in Degas's career, a reflection of his growing mastery of movement and light. Alongside The Dancer of the Quartet (1873) and L'Absinthe (1876), this masterpiece illustrates his evolution towards compositions where modern life becomes an undeniable source of inspiration.
Anecdote
“I love to capture the moment, that fleeting glow of life that passes,” could have said Edgar Degas , inspired by the laughter and whispers of the players. One spring morning, the soft light created the perfect atmosphere, allowing Degas to capture this vibrant scene where every detail pulses with life.