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A Box at the Théâtre des Italiens
- Artist
- Eva Gonzalès (1849–1883)
- Date
- c. 1874
- Dimensions
- 98 x 130 cm
- Medium
- Oil on canvas
- Location
- Musée d'Orsay, Paris, France
A Box at the Théâtre des Italiens shows a young woman in a white evening gown seated in a theatre box, gazing out over the auditorium, while a man in evening dress stands behind her. A bouquet and opera glasses lie on the velvet ledge.
A closer look
The woman's pale face, bare shoulders and white dress glow against the dark background and the man's black suit, a strong contrast in the manner of Manet, Gonzalès's teacher. The bouquet of flowers on the red velvet ledge adds a fresh note of colour. Both figures seem absorbed in their own thoughts, together yet apart, a subtle image of modern social life. The painting was rejected by the Salon in 1874 but accepted in 1879, when it was well received.