Bal du moulin de la Galette

First thought, on the first glance of this painting is, "I wish." Bal du moulin de la Galette is an ideal frame that everybody would want to be a part of their routine. Dancing hand-in-hand, heart-to-heart, smiling, giggling, and laughing. Bright sunlight tyndalled through the tapestry of canopy, pretending to be afternoon disco lights. Fresh air, food, and wine.

If lived like this, this would be one of the images that comes in life montage when we meet death eye-to-eye. Friends, family, and good neighbors. People around who we ease out, do not think twice before talking, and don't mind wine taking over our choreography. A natural, instinctive life. Of course, there would be small gangs that would gossip later, but they will stand for each other, like they got nobody else.

A community that has gone extinct. No parks with a stage for open mic jazz and waltz concerts, shy and dignified middle aged couples, and frustration of maintaing everything under control- image, diet, and life. Like a famous question, Which came first, egg or chicken?, I would frame this as, which came first, social anxiety or privacy?

The colour of the painting is mostly shades of blue. Maybe there was a dress code that they followed or Renoir meant that peace is just happiness in stillness. Most of the subjects are dancing. Are in movement. That is happiness. And when they go back home, have a nice simple meal and hit the bed, they are peaceful. Their hearts aren't heavy. He painted it because he lived in it, in this community, carrying a large canvas everyday to the streets. His community was his muse and our ambition.

As someone who hasn't lived in that world, I do realise that social anxiety and privacy has together built an imaginary facade that people are not reliable. Maybe they are not. But people are trustworthy. Atleast to have a nice sunday afternoon carnival with them.