What is "The Luncheon of the Boating Party?"

"Luncheon of the Boating Party," or "Le Déjeuner des Canotiers," is an 1881 painting by French artist Pierre-Auguste Renoir. Renoir included some of his actual friends in the painting, which was painted in the Impressionist style for which he was known.

In "Luncheon," 13 characters are shown relaxing on a balcony and sharing food and wine. Renoir's future wife, Aline Charigot, sits at a table, coddling a small dog. Two men are dressed in white sleeveless shirts, adding to the relaxed aesthetic.

Renoir sold the painting to a dealer, Paul Durand-Ruel. His son sold it again in 1923 to art collector Duncan Phillips. It remains part of the Phillips collection in Washington, D.C., as of 2014.