# The Conversation

**Marcellin Gilbert Desboutin** (French, 1823–1902)  
1875–79  
Oil on canvas  
55.5 × 38 cm (21 13/16 × 14 15/16 in.); Framed: 69.5 × 52.1 × 8.9 cm (27 3/8 × 20 1/2 × 3 1/2 in.)

Courtesy of the Art Institute of Chicago, 1935.71. [The museum's record](https://www.artic.edu/artworks/21165).

## About this work

Marcellin Gilbert Desboutin painted this in 1875–79, aged about 52. It is now at the Art Institute of Chicago.

### What you’re looking at

A work made of oil on canvas.

_Description from the Art Institute of Chicago._

### How it was made

- **Oil paint.** Pigment ground in a drying oil, usually linseed. It dries slowly, so painters could blend on the canvas, build up thin translucent glazes, and rework a picture over weeks. Canvas replaced wooden panels in the 1500s because it is lighter and can be rolled.

### [Marcellin Gilbert Desboutin](https://www.ochreeditions.com/artists/marcellin-gilbert-desboutin)

French, 1823–1902

## Facts

- Type: Painting
- Culture: France
- The artist was about 52
- Real size: about 22 × 15 in (55 × 38 cm). The 16 × 20 in print is close to life size.
- Century: 19th century
- Subjects: women, dresses, exterior, France, French, leisure, nature, parasols
- Colour: brown
- Rights: public domain (CC0 1.0); free to use for any purpose.

## Get it

- Free download, full resolution: https://img.ochreeditions.com/m/81.jpg?dl=1
- Image: https://img.ochreeditions.com/a/81/1920.jpg
- Giclée reproduction on Hahnemühle Photo Rag: 8 × 10 in $28; 11 × 14 in $38; 12 × 16 in $42; 16 × 20 in $56; 18 × 24 in $68; 20 × 30 in $86; 24 × 36 in $108; 30 × 40 in $148
- Framed reproduction: 8 × 10 in $78; 11 × 14 in $98; 12 × 16 in $108; 16 × 20 in $138; 18 × 24 in $164; 20 × 30 in $208; 24 × 36 in $258; 30 × 40 in $338
- Canvas reproduction: 8 × 10 in $58; 11 × 14 in $72; 12 × 16 in $79; 16 × 20 in $98; 18 × 24 in $118; 20 × 30 in $148; 24 × 36 in $178; 30 × 40 in $228
- Print-ready file: 8 × 10 in $2; 11 × 14 in $2; 12 × 16 in $3; 16 × 20 in $3; 18 × 24 in $3; 20 × 30 in $5; 24 × 36 in $5; 30 × 40 in $5

Sizes stop where the museum's file would print below 150 pixels per inch. Everything sold is a reproduction, made to order. [Order a print](https://www.ochreeditions.com/art/the-conversation-aic-21165).