“This painting captures a vibrant Saturday night at a New York City restaurant, highlighting the changing social freedoms of working-class women in the early 20th century. It’s a vivid snapshot of urban life and evolving social norms.”
In this lively scene, three women gather around a central table at Renganeschi's, a popular Italian restaurant in New York City. The painting captures a moment of newfound freedom for working-class women in the early 20th century, who were increasingly socializing in public spaces without male escorts. Notice the relaxed postures of the women, their legs wrapped around chairs and pinkies casually flared, gestures that might have been considered "unladylike" at the time. Yet, the artist presents their behavior without judgment, instead emphasizing their enjoyment of a night out. The informal style and loose brushwork create a sense of immediacy, drawing you into this dynamic moment of urban leisure and the changing social landscape.
- Artist
- John Bornet
- Date
- 1912
- Medium
- Oil on canvas
- Location
- Art Institute of Chicago
- Dimensions
- 66.7 × 81.3 cm (26 1/4 × 32 in.)
- Collection
- Arts of the Americas
- Culture
- New York City
- Credit line
- Gift of Mary Otis Jenkins
What to Notice
Five details hide in plain sight. Here’s where to look.

The central woman's pinky finger, casually extended as she holds her glass.
The way the women's legs are wrapped around their chairs, indicating comfort.
The lively, blurred background suggesting a bustling restaurant atmosphere.
The warm, inviting glow of the interior lighting on their faces.
1 more detail is waiting.
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John Bornet
1810–1910John Bornet, active across centuries, is known for works like the 1961 'Target' and the 1943 'Nightlife' at the Art Institute of Chicago.
Further Works by Bornet
Stoke-by-Nayland
1836 · Art Institute of Chicago
Rip Van Winkle
1829 · Art Institute of Chicago
Nightlife
Art Institute of Chicago
Nude on a Table
Art Institute of Chicago
Saint John the Evangelist
Art Institute of Chicago
Castle Garden, New York
1851 · The Metropolitan Museum of Art
Bust of a Youth (Saint John the Baptist)
Art Institute of Chicago
Head of Executioner, from John Evelyn's Sculptura
Art Institute of Chicago
More works to explore
Beyond Bornet: works from the same years.
Same era · 1890s–1920s
Lozenge Composition with Yellow, Black, Blue, Red, and Gray
Piet Mondrian · 1921 · Art Institute of Chicago
Same era · 1890s–1920s
Burg on Fehmarn
Ernst Ludwig Kirchner · 1912 · Westphalian State Museum of Art and Cultural History
Same era · 1890s–1920s
Rayonist Sausages and Mackerel
Mikhail Larionov · 1912 · Museum Ludwig
Same era · 1890s–1920s
The Lineman
Ivan Puni · 1927 · Art Institute of Chicago
Same era · 1890s–1920s
Crouching Nude in Shoes and Black Stockings, Back View
Egon Schiele · 1912 · The Metropolitan Museum of Art
Same era · 1890s–1920s
Birth
Marc Chagall · 1911 · Art Institute of Chicago
Same era · 1890s–1920s
Sirmione
John Singer Sargent · 1913 · The Metropolitan Museum of Art
Same era · 1890s–1920s
Still Life with Glass, Dice, Newspaper and Playing Card
Georges Braque · 1913 · Art Institute of Chicago
Same era · 1890s–1920s
Daniel-Henry Kahnweiler
Pablo Picasso · 1910 · Art Institute of Chicago
Same era · 1890s–1920s
The Magic Foot-ball, 'I thought you were wrong,' he said in triumph. 'You said it was nine! Stupid!'
Norman Rockwell · 1914 · Norman Rockwell Museum
Same era · 1890s–1920s
Bathers by a River
Henri Matisse · 1909 · Art Institute of Chicago
Same era · 1890s–1920s
Irises
Claude Monet · 1915 · National Gallery
