Peter Roberts
Well-Known Member
KW Praktica / Meyer-Optik 30mm f3.5 / Kentmere 400 / Rodinal 1:50
Pêche sur l'herbe
- Thread starter Peter Roberts
- Start date
KW Praktica / Meyer-Optik 30mm f3.5 / Kentmere 400 / Rodinal 1:50
Gianluca Drago
Well-Known Member
Your photo really has a Manet vibe. Adorable.
Peter Roberts
Well-Known Member
Thanks, Gianluca. I rather thought you'd make the connection straight away
Antonio Correia
Member
Echoes of "Déjeuner sur l'herbe" 
This black and white photograph somehow evokes the spirit of Manet's "Déjeuner sur l'herbe", transposing the scene from the famous painting to a more everyday and rural context. Whilst Manet presents elegant figures in a bucolic clearing, this image captures a prosaic moment beside a watercourse.
The composition maintains the quality of a casual outdoor gathering, but substitutes the bourgeois picnic for a more genuine scene. The lad with the rod in hand introduces an element that contrasts with the idle contemplation of Manet's characters. The figures seated on the grass echo the informal arrangement of the original painting.
There is a delightful play on words between "déjeuner" (to lunch) and "pêcher" (to fish) - whilst in the painting lunch is shared upon the grass, here the "déjeuner" appears to be a simple sandwich that the young people share whilst the mothers tend to the babies...
This black and white photograph somehow evokes the spirit of Manet's "Déjeuner sur l'herbe", transposing the scene from the famous painting to a more everyday and rural context. Whilst Manet presents elegant figures in a bucolic clearing, this image captures a prosaic moment beside a watercourse.
The composition maintains the quality of a casual outdoor gathering, but substitutes the bourgeois picnic for a more genuine scene. The lad with the rod in hand introduces an element that contrasts with the idle contemplation of Manet's characters. The figures seated on the grass echo the informal arrangement of the original painting.
There is a delightful play on words between "déjeuner" (to lunch) and "pêcher" (to fish) - whilst in the painting lunch is shared upon the grass, here the "déjeuner" appears to be a simple sandwich that the young people share whilst the mothers tend to the babies...
Gary Ayala
Well-Known Member
To my eye ... I see a mixture/hybrid of Monet's "Le Déjeuner sur l'herbe" and Manet's original "Le Déjeuner sur l'herbe". Peter Roberts, you have crafted a third Luncheon in the Grass for our viewing and enjoyment. Thank you for sharing.
Peter Roberts
Well-Known Member
Antonio and Gary, thank you so much for your kind comments. They are both gratifying and slightly humbling as this chance photograph has a very personal significance for me. The full story of its background and what it means to me can be found here:
www.35mmc.com
Pêche sur l'herbe – A one shot story
And there, momentarily laid out in front of me, was a scene that could have lifted straight out of a childhood memory.
www.35mmc.com
Gary Ayala
Well-Known Member
"Undaunted, or perhaps just foolhardy ..." Quote of the day. (Man can I relate to that.)
