In The Corner of the Table, how is the Characters discussed?
This group portrait therefore presents the poets that attended the dinners held at the Vilains Bonshommes, which Edmond Maître had presented to Fantin-Latour. Absent is Albert Mérat, who refused to pose with Rimbaud after an incident that occurred during the dinner of March 2, 1872, when the young poet allegedely interrupted a reading of Jean Aicard and forced the poets to take him out by force.
The group is depicted at the end of a meal, around a table. The painting shows, seated, from left to right, Paul Verlaine, Arthur Rimbaud, Léon Valade, Ernest d'Hervilly, and Camille Pelletan. Standing, from left to right, there are Pierre Elzéar, Émile Blémont, and Jean Aicard. A vase with flowers, in the foreground, at the right, stands for the absent poet, Albert Mérat.
Edmond Maître Paul Verlaine Jean Aicard Arthur Rimbaud Camille Pelletan