Le Guitarrero
1861
From the collection of Cleveland Museum of Art
About the artist
Artist
Edouard Manet
Édouard Manet didn’t have much time to make his mark—he died at 51—but he used every year.
See the richer artist page1861
From the collection of Cleveland Museum of Art
Le Guitarrero is a 1861 by Edouard Manet, a Impressionism work, held at Cleveland Museum of Art.
The painting depicts a man sitting on a bench, playing a guitar. He wears a wide-brimmed hat, a dark jacket, and light-colored pants. The man's face is blurred, and his eyes are cast downward, focused on the instrument. A bottle and a bundle of cloth are placed on the floor beside him. The man's posture conveys a sense of relaxation, with his legs crossed and his body leaning slightly to one side. The guitar is held at an angle, with the neck pointing upward and the body resting on the man's left leg. The overall atmosphere of the painting is one of quiet contemplation. To learn more about the artist's use of light and shadow, explore the technique of chiaroscuro.
Édouard Manet didn’t have much time to make his mark—he died at 51—but he used every year.
See the richer artist page
