Who painted Wedding at the Louvre?

Wedding at the Louvre was painted by Gaston La Touche in 1878.

Where can I see Wedding at the Louvre?

Wedding at the Louvre is held by Cleveland Museum of Art.

What movement is Wedding at the Louvre?

Wedding at the Louvre is associated with Impressionism.

Artwork

Wedding at the Louvre

Gaston La Touche , 1878

Wedding at the Louvre is a print by the Impressionist artist Gaston La Touche. It dates from 1878 and is held in the collection of the Cleveland Museum of Art.

Accession no.: 2022.431
Credit line: Gift of Bernard Derroitte

About this work

Overview

Wedding at the Louvre is a print by Gaston La Touche depicting a nocturnal Parisian street scene, capturing a moment of revelry amidst the everyday lives of working-class individuals.

Subject & Meaning

The print illustrates a scene from Émile Zola’s novel L’Assommoir, specifically a rare joyful moment in the narrative, the wedding of Gervaise, a laundress. The image contrasts fleeting happiness with the harsh realities of the characters’ lives.

Technique & Style

La Touche employs a style influenced by his loose association with the Impressionist circle, evident in the depiction of gas lamps’ glow and the play of light on wet cobblestones, achieved through printmaking techniques.

History & Provenance

Created in collaboration with Émile Zola for visual accuracy, the entire series was exhibited at the Paris Salon in 1879, highlighting La Touche’s engagement with literary naturalism.

Context

This work reflects La Touche’s early focus on depicting the lives of Paris’s working class, aligning with the naturalist themes prevalent in late 19th-century French literature and art.