At the Café (Au café)
1869
ink
From the collection of National Gallery 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 page1869
ink
From the collection of National Gallery of Art
At the Café (Au café) is a 1869 ink by Edouard Manet, a Impressionism work, held at National Gallery of Art.
This sketch shows a busy café scene with five people sitting at a long table. The artist used bold black lines to draw the chairs, tables, and people, leaving the background mostly empty. One man stands, talking to another, while the others sit with drinks and food. The faces and clothes are simple, almost like quick sketches. The artist didn’t focus on details—just the overall feeling of the moment. Want to learn more about how this was made? Try looking up lithography.
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
