At the Theatre

Pierre-Auguste Renoir (1841-1919) has captured the excitement of attending theatre for the first time in At The Theatre (1876), later named La Premiere Sortie (’The First Outing’ in French). This painting reflects the Parisian bourgeois leisure culture which dominated the late 19th century. The scene depicts a young woman watching the stage as she is surrounded by French aristocracy in their seats. Theatre boxes were designed to perform themselves; they were spaces of social display - audiences watched each other just as much as they watched the performance in front of them. Renoir introduces this concept of being seen and a layered dynamic to the scene. The woman is watching the performance but the background figures are gazing at her, and the viewer is watching all of them. It highlights the powerful role of modern social interaction and focuses on the curiosity of spectatorship within the cultural rituals of public life. Renoir’s distinctly Impressionist broken brushstrokes evokes a shimmering surface with blurred outlines across the canvas. The light luminous colours and soft forms mimics how the eye perceives peripheral vision. The central figure is clearer while the crowd becomes a blur of colour and movement; conjuring a sense of momentary perception. The woman is youthful in her appearance with her sophisticated attire, blooming flowers, and excited yet composed posture. It creates an image of initiation into adulthood, embodying innocence and social status as she makes her debut into society as a young woman. Renoir has used this painting to reflect modern themes of desire, social performance and observation. He has depicted society as a stage and has given us roles to play within it; he demonstrates how modern life is theatrical and a spectacle to watch.