This portrait is somewhat unusual in Manet's ceuvre. It has been
dashed off in a few brilliant moments. Being himself the model,
the artist could afford to risk extreme stylistic audacity.
Practically the entire canvas is in the same scale of tones
ranging from ocher to black. Light boldly accentuates the
right-hand side of the face, particularly the eye. Manet is even
more daring in his sketching in of the hand holding the brush,
which, blending into the ocher of the jacket, is highlighted only
by the faintest touches of vermilion. He has not even taken the
trouble to reverse the mirror image of himself, so that he is seen
here painting with his left hand.
Manet is fair, with a kindly expression, and wears a
cravat with a stickpin. As commented by critics Jacques-Emile
Blanche: "His slightly husky voice had caressing tones. What
struck me most about him was the embarrassing position in winch he
placed those who knew him best. He had friends; people liked him,
but certainly only very few admired him, and nobody knew what
attitude to adopt when people spoke of him. They did not believe
in him very much. Monet
and Renoir may possibly have
admired him."
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