The Smoker
Technique: Giclée quality print
Recommended by our customers
More about this artwork
This painting, titled "The Smoker" by Edouard Manet, is a striking portrait that focuses on a man comfortably engaged in smoking. The subject, an elderly man, is depicted with a full beard and is wearing a dark suit and a fur hat, giving him a somewhat rugged and introspective appearance. The man's gaze is directed towards the viewer, creating a direct and engaging connection. In his right hand, he holds a cigarette, from which smoke gently rises, adding a dynamic element to the otherwise static scene. His left hand rests on his thigh, holding a crumpled piece of blue cloth, which adds a subtle touch of color to the predominantly dark palette of the painting. The background is subdued and nondescript, allowing the viewer to focus entirely on the character and his action of smoking. This painting showcases Manet's skill in capturing the essence of daily life and ordinary moments with a sense of dignity and profound depth.
Delivery
Returns
Édouard Manet (1832–1883) was a French modernist painter and one of the first 19th century artists to paint modern life. His impressionist style is characterized by relatively small and thin brushstrokes that create emphasis on light depiction. Manet was one of the key artists in the transition from realism to impressionism, along with Claude Monet, Edgar Degas, and Pierre-Auguste Renoir. However, he resisted involvement in any one specific style of painting, and only presented his work to the Salon of Paris instead of impressionist exhibitions. His early masterworks, The Luncheon on the Grass and Olympia, created great controversy and served as a rallying point for other young painters.