Artwork
The Smoker
The Smoker is a print by the Impressionist artist Édouard Manet. It dates from 1866 and is held in the collection of the Cleveland Museum of Art.
- Accession no.
- 1922.202
- Credit line
- Gift of Ralph King
About this work
Overview
Édouard Manet’s 1866 print titled The Smoker is part of the collection at the Cleveland Museum of Art. The work presents a solitary figure, a bearded man in a dark coat and hat, caught in the act of drawing on a cigarette. The composition is rendered in a loose, sketch‑like manner that emphasizes immediacy over finish.
Subject & Meaning
The central figure appears weary yet intent, his gaze directed toward the cigarette he holds. The portrayal of an ordinary, everyday activity reflects Manet’s interest in contemporary life, moving away from idealized portraiture toward a candid glimpse of a private moment.
Technique & Style
Executed with rapid, fluid lines, the print conveys a sense of spontaneity. The sketchy quality, combined with a minimal finish, suggests that Manet intended the piece as a study rather than a polished work, using the medium to capture the fleeting gesture of smoking.
History & Provenance
Created in 1866, The Smoker entered the Cleveland Museum of Art’s holdings at an unspecified date. The artist’s signature appears in the lower corner in a brief, informal hand, confirming its attribution and underscoring the work’s status as a quick, on‑the‑spot observation.
Own this work as a print
Artist & collection
Artist
Édouard Manet was a French modernist painter. He was one of the first 19th-century artists to paint modern life, as well as a pivotal figure in the transition from Realism to Impressionism.
