Edgar Degas' 'In a Café (The Absinthe Drinker)' Examined Through Historical Context and Critical Reception
The painting 'In a Café (The Absinthe Drinker)' by Edgar Degas depicts a weary couple in a Parisian café, with the woman appearing despondent beside a glass of absinthe. Created around 1875-1876, the work portrays actress Ellen André and artist Marcellin Desboutin as models in the Café La Nouvelle Athènes at Place Pigalle. Degas employed a photographic composition with muted colors to convey melancholy. The artwork sparked debate upon exhibition, with critics divided over its depiction of social issues versus its artistic merit. The piece reflects concerns about absinthe consumption in late 19th-century France, highlighting the spirit's addictive properties and eventual prohibition in many regions.
Key facts
- Edgar Degas painted 'In a Café (The Absinthe Drinker)' circa 1875-1876
- The models were Ellen André, an actress, and Marcellin Desboutin, an engraver and artist
- The setting is Café La Nouvelle Athènes in Paris's Place Pigalle district
- Absinthe, a highly alcoholic spirit, was controversial and later banned in numerous countries
- Critical reception was mixed, with some labeling the subject repulsive while others valued its sociological insight
Entities
Artists
Institutions
- NGV Victoria
Locations
- Paris
- France
Sources
- NGV Blog —