Inspired by the old masters, particularly 17th-century Spanish
painter Diego
Velázquez, Manet created Rag Picker in 1869.
With nearly life-sized figures placed against an
ambiguous backdrop, the work has an austere, theatrical
appearance. The influence of Velázquez can also be recognized in
the relatively somber palette and vibrant brushwork. Even the
humble subject matter is rooted in the traditions of 17th-century
art, which Manet adapted to create direct and unsentimental images
of people on the margins of society.
Creating a quite large portrait of a beggar man -
someone who had 'no worth' to society - Manet was questioning the
traditions and rules of the art world. Yet at the same time, the Rag
Picker is a symbol of freedom; of the characters who lived on
their own terms, unrestricted by the rules of society
MOST POPULAR PAINTINGS
A Bar at the Folies-Bergere
Olympia
Luncheon on the Grass
The Fifer
The Railway
The Balcony
Music in the Tuileries Garden
Self Portrait with Palette