The Elegy of Cohabitation: When Relationship Breaks Down

This section gathers artworks that show everyday domestic scenes. Rather than big conflicts, they capture small pauses, stillness, and the distance that can grow in familiar rooms. Notice where people sit, what they look at, and how their bodies turn toward — or away from — one another.

As you move through these works, consider: What small actions shape the atmosphere of a home? Which details remind you of moments you’ve seen or experienced?

Attraction I
Edvard Munch
1896

The two figures seem to look at one another, their bodies very close, their faces almost merging into a single shadow. It is hard to tell whether they are gently drawing closer or being pulled and tangled by the same powerful emotion. Does this closeness make them feel wanted, or a little unable to breathe?

At Mouquin’s
William Glackens
1905

In a brightly lit restaurant, a well-dressed woman turns her head and looks away, while her companion leans back slightly beside her. The glasses on the table are half-full, yet the moment feels stalled. A large mirror behind them reflects other guests, but it only seems to highlight the distance between her and the crowd. Do you think she is enjoying the night, or drifting off alone in all this noise?

Afternoon Tea
James Abbott McNeill Whistler
1897

Two elderly figures sit at a small round table. Tea and sweets rest between them, but they do not look at each other or speak. Their bodies seem relaxed, yet each is lost in thought. Loose lines push the room into the background, leaving only quiet air and fragile distance. Is this comfortable silence, or unspoken loneliness?

Copyright information:
–At Mouquin’s , William Glackens , 1905. Friends of American Art Collection, from the Art Institute of Chicago. CC0. Reference Number 1925.295.
–Afternoon Tea, James Abbott McNeill Whistler, 1897. Gift of Dorothy Braude Edinburg to the Harry B. and Bessie K. Braude Memorial Collection, from the Art Institute of Chicago. CC0. Reference Number 2013.1051.
–Attraction I, Edvard Munch, 1896. John H. Wrenn Memorial Collection, from the Art Institute of Chicago. CC0. Reference Number 1943.526.