“The Breakfast Table” is a genre painting created by John Singer Sargent in 1884. This artwork, executed using oil on canvas, falls under the Realism art movement and measures 54 x 45.1 cm. It is currently housed in the Fogg Museum, a part of the Harvard Art Museums in Cambridge, Massachusetts.
The artwork presents a scene capturing the essence of a quiet, intimate breakfast setting. A woman is depicted sitting at a table, adorned with a white tablecloth that cascades down elegantly. The table is meticulously arranged with a variety of finely crafted silverware and porcelain items, indicative of a refined domestic setting. A delicate bouquet of pink flowers is placed prominently, adding a vivid splash of color to the subdued tones. The room is softly lit, with the light source subtly suggested by the shadows and highlights in the painting. In the background, the details of domestic interior decor, including a hanging lamp and a mantel displaying various objects, enrich the composition with a sense of lived-in warmth and tranquility. The overall atmosphere is serene and contemplative, inviting viewers to reflect on the simple yet profound beauty of daily life.