This painting depicts the French pianist and composer Erik Satie listening to a woman play the piano. It’s an intimate moment in which the two of them share their love of music.
In the 19th century, the piano was one of the few places men and women of a certain distinction were allowed to mingle freely. Most wealthy homes had a piano room, and recitals were often a part of the evening entertainment.
We know that Satie was in love with the artist Suzanne Vallodon, and this may well be a portrait of them together. But it’s also possible that the woman in question is Stephanie Nantas, a close friend of Satie and a frequent model for the painter Rusiñol. Satie even dedicated a piece of music to her titled “Gold Dust” (Poudre d’or).
Satie is one of my favorite composers, and his Trois Gymnopédies are not only timeless classics, but also make for easy listening. The most well-known recording is by Anne Queffellec, but I myself am partial to the recording by Klara Körmendi, which is the one that I listened to the most when I first began listening to Satie at university (see below). To me, this version really captures the mysterious quality of Satie’s work, and in its pacing renders it more melancholic and less romantic. I really hope you’ll give it a listen, as it is quite captivating.
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Julian