In college, I took an art history course, studying the Impressionists for one semester.  Since then, I have cultivated my continuing fascination with these artists through travel.  In cities like Chicago,  Washington D.C., Rome and naturellement, Paris, I have stood in front of some of my favorite paintings, masterpieces of color and light.  The last time I was in Paris, I strolled through the Jardin des Tuileries and then enjoyed a couple of lovely hours in the Musée de l’Orangerie.  After marveling over Claude Monet’s celebrated waterlily panels, I ventured on to view the works of other Impressionists like Pierre-Auguste Renoir.  This cheerful portrait of two girls at the piano caught my eye and inspired my latest photo essay.

Bright laughter mingles with the lilting melody of the French folk song Sophie plays on her grandmama’s piano.  That morning, she had sent a note to her cousin, Marguerite, suggesting an afternoon stroll and a picnic in the Jardin des Tuileries.  At noon, the skies had insisted on turning dark and ominous, and now, a steady rain rattles against the window panes behind the long damask curtains.

Settling for a pot of creamy hot chocolate and a plate of Cook’s lemon madeleines in the parlor, the girls make the most of their unexpected afternoon indoors by sifting through the stacks of sheet music, collected over the years by their grandmother, and playing their favorite pieces.  Both Sophie and Marguerite have studied the piano ever since they can remember, taking lessons from the formidable M. Chanson.

Sophie’s slim fingers skip across the ivory keys and Marguerite begins to sing the simple tune in her sweet soprano voice.  Sophie wishes she sang as well as Marguerite, but her voice is passable at best.  Upon playing the final measure, Sophie slides over on the piano bench, making room for her cousin.

“You play something now,” Sophie says. “How about that new piece by Debussy? I absolutely adore the third movement, Clair de Lune.” She finds the music and spreads it out across the piano’s polished music stand.

Marguerite leans forward to study the opening bars and says, “Did you know that Grandmama once had Mr. Debussy over to dine?”  She begins to play, her fingers traveling gently and expertly over the keyboard.  “I wonder if he played for everyone after dinner.”

“Can you imagine if we took our lessons from him instead of grumpy old M. Chanson?” Sophie says with a shout of laughter.

She gets up and retrieves her sketchbook from the divan. As Marguerite plays, Sophie sketches her, her pencil flying confidently over the page.  She finishes the drawing just as her cousin strikes the final notes of Mr. Debussy’s piece.

Marguerite turns around on the piano bench and Sophie holds up her sketch.

“I wish I could play as well as you,” Sophie says and Marguerite echoes back, “I wish I could draw as well as you.”

The cousins share another laugh and go together to the window.  The rain has stopped and hopeful rays of sunshine break through the clouds.