The Smoker (Le fumeur)
1866
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 page1866
ink
From the collection of National Gallery of Art
The Smoker (Le fumeur) is a 1866 ink by Edouard Manet, a Impressionism work, held at National Gallery of Art.
This sketch shows an older man with a long beard and a soft hat. He’s holding a cigarette in his right hand, raised like he’s about to take a puff. His left hand rests on his chest, and he’s wearing a loose jacket with a high collar. The lines are rough and quick, almost like a quick sketch. The artist used a technique that scratches into the metal plate to create the image—this is how the lines got their sharp, uneven look. It’s not polished like a painting; it feels more like a snapshot of a moment. Next, look up etching to see how artists use acid and needles to make prints like this.
Édouard Manet didn’t have much time to make his mark—he died at 51—but he used every year.
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