Who painted Mlle. Victorine in the Costume of an "Espada"(L'espada)?

Mlle. Victorine in the Costume of an "Espada"(L'espada) was painted by Édouard Manet in 1862.

Where can I see Mlle. Victorine in the Costume of an "Espada"(L'espada)?

Mlle. Victorine in the Costume of an "Espada"(L'espada) is held by National Gallery of Art.

What movement is Mlle. Victorine in the Costume of an "Espada"(L'espada)?

Mlle. Victorine in the Costume of an "Espada"(L'espada) is associated with Impressionism.

Can I buy a print of Mlle. Victorine in the Costume of an "Espada"(L'espada)?

Museum-quality prints of Mlle. Victorine in the Costume of an "Espada"(L'espada) are available made-to-order from Artifact World Gallery.

Artwork

Mlle. Victorine in the Costume of an "Espada"(L'espada)

Édouard Manet , 1862

Mlle. Victorine in the Costume of an "Espada"(L'espada) is an ink print by the Impressionist artist Édouard Manet. It dates from 1862 and is held in the collection of the National Gallery of Art. Edouard Manet’s 1862 print titled Mlle.

About this work

Overview

Edouard Manet’s 1862 print titled Mlle. Victorine in the Costume of an “Espada” is executed as an etching combined with aquatint. The image presents a solitary female figure centrally placed, barefoot and attired in a fencing costume, clutching a sword and a flowing cloak. Behind her, indistinct figures also bear swords, suggesting a broader scene of martial activity.

Subject & Meaning

The work depicts a young woman, identified as Victorine, assuming the role of an “espada,” the term for a sword‑bearing fencer. By placing a female subject in a traditionally male arena, Manet hints at themes of gender play and the performative aspects of sport, while the lively pose conveys a sense of immediacy and spirited engagement with the act of fencing.

Technique & Style

Manet employs a hybrid printmaking process: etched lines define the figure’s outline and details, while aquatint creates tonal washes that model volume and atmosphere. The contrast between crisp linear marks and softer, grainy shading produces a dynamic sense of movement, especially evident in the swirling cloak and the implied motion of the sword.

History & Provenance

Created in the early 1860s, the print reflects Manet’s interest in contemporary leisure activities and his experimentation with print media. It was likely produced in limited numbers, as was customary for etchings of the period, and has since entered museum collections that focus on 19th‑century French art, though specific ownership records remain sparse.

Context

The image emerges from a Parisian milieu where fencing was both a sport and a social spectacle. Manet’s choice to portray a woman in this setting aligns with his broader engagement with modern life, echoing the urban leisure scenes found in his paintings and the broader Realist movement’s focus on everyday subjects.

Mlle. Victorine in the Costume of an Espada, Édouard Manet

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Artist & collection

Artist

Édouard Manet

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.