Art Review: Mr. and Mrs. Chester Dale Dine Out

Hi all,

Last semester, I visited the Metropolitan Museum of Art and saw this particular painting titled Mr. and Mrs. Chester Dale Dine Out. I wrote a review for it below. Enjoy!

The American Artist Guy Pène du Bois illustrates the dining experience of Mr. and Mrs. Chester Dale in a 1924 painting. Mr. and Mrs. Chester Dale sit across the table from one another in a New York restaurant. The couple begins to enjoy the evening when a nice waiter arrives.  Although they are not speaking to one another, Bois uses their stiff body language to depict communication. Bois’ use of color, the couple and a waiter all create the relationship within the scene.

Guy Pène du Bois completed many pieces of art during his life. His travels throughout Europe led him to learn different techniques to incorporate within his artwork. Bois’ use of oil on canvas blends well to convey his subjects. Invisible brushstrokes characterize his artwork and allow him to portray his paintings as real as possible.  Many of his paintings including Mr. and Mrs. Chester Dale portray social elites dining and mingling together. His fascination with this group of people illuminates this society. He incorporates aspects of their lives such as their spending habits on jewelry and stylish clothing. The elite women wear shiny rings on their fingers and the latest 1920s dress. The men sit straight in their chairs with chins held high in a dignified manner. Their crisp, black suits show no sign of wear. Bois portrays these people as those who have no care in the world.

In his painting of Mr. and Mrs. Chester Dale, Guy Pène du Bois continues to display the social life of elite couples. Interestingly, this particular painting may have some hidden meaning. The scene shows Mr. and Mrs. Chester Dale sitting across from one another at a table, as a waiter stands close by, neither one is smiling which shows tension in their relationship. I noticed that she reaches toward a slip of paper in his hand, which he has pulled in closer to himself. The waiter, standing above Mr. Dale, has his attention fixed upon this slip of paper. The hidden paper may contain news that Mr. Dale thinks only men are fit to know and discuss. On the other hand, the waiter’s curious facial expression may show his possible intrusion on the very topic that Mr. Dale hides from his wife. Anyways, it is clear that Mr. Dale has a private note and it is not for his wife’s eyes. Another peculiar aspect of the painting is the reflection displayed in the window behind the table. Both the waiter and Mr. Dale appear to reflect off the window yet Mrs. Dale has no reflection. Hence, Bois shows her invisibility to others. Her invisibility may derive from her lack of knowledge on certain subjects that her husband keeps from her. Essentially, she is kept in the dark about such things. Also, her black and white clothing masks her beauty as a woman. Her broad shoulders and long arms are not typical feminine features. Bois’ layout of this scene does a great job of creating mystery.  However, the simplicity of the piece causes many viewers to look quickly before moving along to the next work of art.

Digging deeper into an analysis of this painting, I realize many of the museum visitors neglect to reflect on this art. As a talented artist, Bois knows how to catch the attention of an audience yet this painting rarely stops any curious visitors. The neutral colors lack an intensity seen in other pieces of modern art. Black, white, and shades of gray encompass the aesthetics of this painting. Lacking bold colors, this painting attracts visitors due to its underlying story. After a long moment of observation, visitors notice the couple’s body language and their feelings about the slip of paper. They may even notice their elite status as they dine in an exclusive restaurant. In the end, a visitor has witnessed a piece of art.

The artwork of Guy Pène du Bois hangs brilliantly in a modern art gallery. His low-key colors and simple lines allow visitors to quickly gaze over his artwork. Those who stay long enough will catch a glimpse of a hidden meaning within the piece. He has gained success as a professional artist because he can hide meaning in his work.