The Floor Scrapers, The Masterpiece of Impressionism by Gustave Caillebotte

A vulgar subject, at least that is what the judges of the Paris Salon gave as an explanation for rejecting this painting. And they were right. This is not a high minded subject. No mythology or poetic reference to an eternal truth or anything. Instead we see these three men scraping a floor in a Parisian house. It’s probably the artists studio he had in his father’s house. It is hard work and hot in the middle of the day so the men have taken their shirts off. In the right hand corner there is s bottle and a glass of wine, furthering the impression that these men are French. Two of them have tilted their heads towards each other as if they are talking. They are probably wondering what to make of that strange man is standing in the doorway with his sketching paper. On some levels, it is actually surprising that this painting as rejected for the Salon, because it contains so many elements that were often admired by these judges. It shows human anatomy in a convincing way. We see the scene at an unusual angle which you could argue is a challenging way to compose a picture, and he worked out the perspective perfectly. But sadly, all the judges saw was a painting with a vulgar subject and not the brilliance that was right in front of them.
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[@daveco1270]

I was at the Musee D'Orsay earlier this summer. The Floor Scrapers really stood out to me.... it was one of my favorite paintings in the museum. On a side note, I was recently watching season 5 of the TV show Billions and the main character has that painting on the wall of his NYC penthouse...and I'm pretty sure it's supposed to be the original.

[@rodrigoestrada8347]

thanks for the insight on Caillebotte; he is often overlooked in Impressionist readings and now when again at the dÒrsay I will revisit his paintings from a new and very interesting perspective

[@storiesofart]

Wonderful!

[@richardchadwick4028]

Im a carpenter, so when i first saw this in the musee dorsey i was captivated..the power of art ...

[@Ghost-iv9dd]

this painting is one of my favourites! So glad you covered it 😊😊😊

[@stevereade4858]

I think one of the reasons - perhaps THE REASON - people who labored in the city ( such as the floor scrapers) were not held in the same regard as the country peasant was that with the advent of manufacturing the farmer/farmers/country peasants became elevated in the eyes of the sophisticated Parisians. And, afterall, they "feed" the French. Those same Parisians saw - really saw - city workers, and they were sweaty, smelly, ugly ... the original unwashed masses. Those workers didn't have the aura of the "noble" country peasant who was also sweaty, smelly, & ugly, but situated well beyond sensitive Parisian noses.

[@alideep9656]

Thank you

[@storiesofart]

You're welcome

[@renzo6490]

Odd to think that a shirtless man might be considered immodest when so much of the Academic figure paintings were of naked or near naked women.

[@yellowboot6629]

❣️

[@moniquevanderlint9607]

So glad you are posting again! Thank you. This is one of my favourite paintings. Part my loving it so much is probably because I’m a photographer.

[@storiesofart]

Glad you enjoy it!

[@dennisdenneboom431]

Lekker bezig de laaste tijd. Ik heb nog wat te kijken de komende tijd. Dankjewel. 👍

[@storiesofart]

Veel plezier ermee!

[@deborahscotland8819]

I enjoyed this very much. I love Caillebotte's Rainy Day but have never seen any other of his other paintings, so this was an eye-opener for me.

[@storiesofart]

Thank you. He is a really interesting painter, isn't he? He had a very unique way of looking at his world.

[@mickmick768]

I love your channel. Please keep going!

[@storiesofart]

Thank you! Will do!

[@riveredgeman]

Happy with this !

[@storiesofart]

Great! Do you any more favourites?

[@riveredgeman]

Lakoon Group is awesome !

[@rooboatdeer22yu51]

you are just as beautiful if not more

[@bev9708]

Ohhh what a very interesting choice, such an intriguing painting!! I have an annual pass for the Musee d'Orsay and this is one painting I've been wanting to know more about. I wonder how this painting got to be "known" for having homosexual undertones... was Caillebotte himself homosexual? I don't think he married did he? I think certainly his work Homme au bain immediately puts the idea in our minds. I also wonder if one of the reasons he didn't become as popular so quickly, not selling paintings, was because he didn't need to sell paintings in order to support himself financially.