Lunch in the Park with Sony Model TV-500U

‘Lunch in the Park with Sony Model TV-500U’ - R Williamson, acrylic on canvas; 20” x 28” tall

Not sure why I started incorporating a few of Manets figures from ‘Le Dejeuner sur l’herbe‘ in some of my Volunteer Park settings but for this one I went full homage. This painting is the size of a small study (20” x 28” tall) but a taller version might be in the offing.

I can recall seeing a photo reproduction of the original Manet in a book for the first time as a child of maybe 7 or 8 and being scandalized, mesmerized, titilated, and drawn in all at the same time. The fantasy tableau that Manet staged was very dreamlike and almost surreal.

Picasso did many versions of the original composition, having much fun with it. For me it was separating out the figures, introducing the hot pink, and putting in some screen time, but the type from 5 decades ago.