Young Man at His Window

1876

Oil on canvas, 116.1 × 81 cm. J. Paul Getty Museum, Los Angeles

Caillebotte's brother René stands at an open window in the family apartment, looking down at a sunlit street. It was among the most praised works of the artist's 1876 debut.

The street is seen from inside the home, past René's back, toward a lone woman far below. The Impressionists kept looking for new viewpoints on the city, and the window was one.
Shown at the second Impressionist exhibition in 1876, with The Floor Scrapers.
One of three 1876 family interiors, with Young Man Playing the Piano and Luncheon.
Strong outside light turns the dark-suited figure almost into a silhouette.
Bought by the Getty at Christie's in 2021, its first Caillebotte.

The family lived in an upper-floor apartment on a street closed in by tall blocks. The red armchair suggests René has just stood up.

Image: Wikimedia Commons · Public domain