The Toilette (La toilette)
1862
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 page1862
ink
From the collection of National Gallery of Art
The Toilette (La toilette) is a 1862 ink by Edouard Manet, a Impressionism work, held at National Gallery of Art.
This sketch shows a man sitting on a chair, half-dressed with his shirt off. His posture is relaxed, one arm resting on his knee while he holds something near his face. Behind him, a woman stands, her body turned away, holding a cloth or towel. The lines are rough and scratchy, giving it a raw, unfinished look. The artist used a technique that lets ink fill the scratched lines, creating bold dark areas. This style was new for its time and made the image feel urgent and alive. Look up etching to see how artists create 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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