Au Bois de Boulogne by Dietz Edzard
Au Bois de Boulogne by Dietz Edzard shows a young lady in a vibrant yellow dress enjoying herself at one of the cafés in the Bois de Boulogne, one of Paris’s large parks. The Bois de Boulogne is a popular destination for people of all classes and backgrounds. The park’s current borders were set in 1853 as part of Baron Haussmann’s urban renovation plans. At the time, it featured extensive spaces for walking and lounging, racetracks, cafés, lakes for boating, and, more recently, it is the home of the Stade Roland Garros, the venue for the French Open tennis tournament. It has also frequently become a subject for many artists like Béraud, Morisot, Bonnard, and Van Gogh. Many have also speculated that Édouard Manet used the Bois de Boulogne as the setting for his controversial work Le Déjeuner sur l’herbe, which some theorize is based on prostitutes catering to young bourgeois men in the park. But regardless of the interpretation, it’s undeniable that the primary theme of any work of art set in the Bois de Boulogne is leisure and recreation. And Edzard does not deviate from this established norm.
Edzard’s subject appears statuesque but with an Audrey Hepburn elegance. She is viewed in profile, with a calm, stoic expression, as she sips her drink. But while her gloved hand fiddles with her straw, another glass sits upon the table, perhaps implying the existence of a friend or a suitor opposite her. Her placid face makes it seem like she’s attentively following an anecdote or a piece of gossip. But while she remains still, the scene Edzard paints behind her is incredibly dynamic, showing countless couples dancing to the music provided by the small ensemble on the raised platform at the other end of the dance floor. While many painters have depicted café scenes, very rarely do we encounter a work set in a Parisian cabaret or café that is imbued with such intimacy. The action in the background coupled with the woman’s stillness creates a more engaging image for the viewer. The lady in yellow is just one of many attendees, but through Edzard’s framing, she becomes the star attraction.