As the waiter polishes wine glasses, a beautiful woman reads quietly. By the window, a raven-haired beauty awaits her date, hands nervously grasping her handbag. A coffee remains untouched as its owner sits serenely, the pearls around her neck reflected in the opulent mirror. And, as the clock strikes five, the waitress takes a moment to herself, preparing to weave through the people and their stories, back into the outside world. Welcome to Café Society. The highly-anticipated new collection from Andrew Kinsman is a powerful testament to his extraordinary ability to capture intimate snapshots of everyday life. Following the monumental success of the 2015 release of ‘Café de Paris’, the artist has delved into the cafés and restaurants of France in the hope of recreating the timeless elegance of the 1950s and 60s. To make his art as authentic as possible, Andrew moved to Paris. During his travels, he fell in love with the city and its people. In the hustle and bustle, dimly-lit corners and rich scents of coffee and pastries, he uncovered the human tales that form the backdrop of his pieces. “I wanted to create another story from this incredible city,” Andrew explains. “I became so enamoured with the photographs and the style and poise of the people doing nothing more than frequenting cafés and bars. I wanted to recreate something close to this in paint.” Like the 1961 Frédéric Dard novel, Bird in a Cage , that inspired his work, Andrew yearned to discover the encounters, mystery and intrigue that make the city so unique. Upon his arrival in Paris, the talented musician – who plays the saxophone, clarinet, flute and piano – immersed himself in the blues and jazz scene. In time, he met his muse: the elusive Eloise. Beautiful, expressive and spirited, she epitomised the grace he wished to capture. After
convincing the actress to pose for him, the characters began to take shape beneath his paintbrush. “Like all of my previous work, I wanted to capture a snapshot of real life,” Andrew says. “I generally choose actors rather than models, especially as they know how to instantly recreate the story of the painting in a simple pose or expression. “I love working and reworking until I’m happy with the detail, colour and contrast of light and dark. Seeing this come to life over time is the ultimate thrill of being an artist.” Inspired by Impressionist and Post-Impressionist artists including Van Gogh,Toulouse-Lautrec and Cézanne, Andrew let himself be fearless when approaching his canvas. “Being self-taught, I personally feel unconstrained by subject matter and style,” he says. “I no longer draw out the composition in great detail like I used to. Paradoxically, most of my compositions are derived from my imagination – but they are no less ‘real’ to me.” Further influences included the American realist painter and printmaker, Edward Hopper, who is noted for his own café and diner scenes.“I love the solitary feel he evokes in his work, and I tried to capture this in mine,” Andrew adds. “I’ve really tried to go with the colour palette and classic sense of style of the 1950s.” Stepping into Café Society is like stepping into a hidden café along a winding backstreet in Paris. But intertwined with the sumptuous colours and rich textures are the histories and emotions of his characters. As Andrew notes, the collection leaves viewers with two burning questions: “Who is this person meeting? What is this person’s story?”
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