Artwork
Civil War (Guerre civile)
Civil War (Guerre civile) is an ink print by the Impressionist artist Édouard Manet. It dates from 1871 and is held in the collection of the National Gallery of Art.
- Inscription
- Inscribed:recto: in stone, in image, at lower left: Manet / 1871; in stone, below image, at left: Tiré à cent exemplaires; in stone, below image, at center: GUERRE CIVILE; in stone, below image, at right: Imp. Lemercier & Cie. r de Seine 57 Paris
- Markings
- Marked:verso, stamped in black ink: National Gallery of Art Rosenwald Collection (Lugt 1932d)
About this work
Overview
Civil War (Guerre civile) is a print created by French painter Edouard Manet in 1871. Executed as a lithograph mounted on a thin paper support (chine collé), the work reflects Manet’s brief foray into printmaking during a period of intense political upheaval in Europe.
Technique & Style
The image was produced by drawing directly onto a limestone surface with greasy ink, then transferring the design onto a lightweight paper adhered to a sturdier backing, a process known as chine collé. This method allowed Manet to achieve fine detail while preserving the delicate texture of the printed surface.
History & Provenance
Manet completed the lithograph shortly after the Franco‑Prussian War and the Paris Commune, events that informed the work’s title. Though not widely exhibited during his lifetime, the print entered several private collections in the late 19th century before being acquired by a major museum in the early 20th century.
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.
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