La loge (The Theater Box)

The opera house embodied the contrasts and confusion of Parisian society of the late 19th century and were a popular subject among the more progressive artists of the time (other examples include those by the artist Mary Cassatt). It is the upheaval and sense of social uncertainty that Renoir employs to great effect in this piece. While it was frequented by the established upper classes, and those wishing to rise in social standing, the opera was rife with prostitution, leading to those of the establishment considering that what had once been their domain to have been invaded by kept mistresses and the nouveau riche. This piece was first exhibited as part of the first Impressionist Exhibition in 1874. Reviews at the time highlighting the developing difficulty associated with making social judgements about people (perhaps particularly women), as one proclaimed the woman depicted as ‘a figure from the world of elegance’, while another cited her as a warning to young women against vanity and the fickleness of fashion.