Portrait of a Lady
c. 1879
Medium
oil on wood
Dimensions
overall: 15 x 11.4 cm (5 7/8 x 4 1/2 in.) framed: 31.3 x 28.3 x 4.4 cm (12 5/16 x 11 1/8 x 1 3/4 in.)
Classification
Painting
Department
CF
Museum
National Gallery of Art, Washington, D.C.
Credit
Gift of Mrs. Charles S. Carstairs
Accession Number
1952.9.1
Art Historical Context
Edouard Manet's *Portrait of a Lady*c. 1879) captures the essence of late 19th-century Parisian sophistication in a remarkably intimate scale. Manet, a pivotal figure Realism and Impressionism, was renowned for his bold depictions of modern life, challenging academic traditions with loose brushwork and unflinching realism. Created toward the end of his career this small portrait exemplifies his ability to convey personality and presence with economy and immediacy. Painted in oil on wood—a medium evoking Old Master panels but infused with Manet's fresh, modern touch—the work measures just 5 7/...
About the Artist
Edouard Manet · 1832–1883
Édouard Manet (1832-1883) was a French painter who played a pivotal role in the transition from Realism to Impressionism, often called the 'Father of Modern Art.' Born into a wealthy Parisian family, Manet defied his father's wishes for a legal career to pursue painting, studying under academic artist Thomas Couture. His revolutionary works 'Le Déjeuner sur l'herbe' and 'Olympia' (both 1863) scand...