Artwork
The Smoker (Le fumeur)
The Smoker (Le fumeur) is an ink print by the Impressionist artist Édouard Manet. It dates from 1866 and is held in the collection of the National Gallery of Art.
About this work
Overview
The Smoker (Le fumeur) is a print created by Edouard Manet in 1866 using etching and drypoint techniques.
Subject & Meaning
The print depicts an older man with a beard and soft hat, caught in the act of smoking, conveying a sense of informality and spontaneity.
Technique & Style
Manet employed etching and drypoint to achieve a sketch-like quality, characterized by rough, uneven lines that give the impression of a fleeting moment.
Context
As a printmaker, Manet utilized techniques involving acid and needles to scratch into a metal plate, producing an image with a distinctive, unpolished aesthetic.
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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