5 little-known works by Edouard Manet

Edouard Manet was one of the leading figures of the Impressionist movement, alongside Claude Monet and Auguste Renoir. To honor his contributions, Museum TV presents today 5 little-known works by Edouard Manet.

Le suicidé

A haunting painting by Édouard Manet, it captivates with its intensity and significance. Created between 1877 and 1881, it portrays the aftermath of a fatal act. This pivotal moment, elevated by the mastery of the Impressionist painter, presents a well-dressed man holding a revolver, implying the manner of his demise.

However, the identity of this suicide victim remains a subject of debate. Some argue that Manet drew inspiration from his young assistant, Alexandre, who tragically hanged himself in 1859 or 1860. Yet, a controversy arises as Alexandre's suicide method was by hanging, not a gunshot. Another theory proposed by Émile Zola, a close friend of the artist, suggests that it represents the suicide by bullet of the painter Jules Holzapffel in 1866.

The enigma continues to intrigue and fascinate art enthusiasts.

Boy Blowing Bubbles

The portrait, created in 1867, portrays Léon Koëlla-Leenhoff, the son of Édouard Manet and his wife Suzanne Manet, who was his companion at the time. However, Manet's paternity of Léon was never officially confirmed, as he never acknowledged it publicly.

In the painting, Léon, who appears younger than his actual age of 15, is depicted playfully blowing soap bubbles. These bubbles are thought to symbolize the fleeting and ephemeral nature of life. Manet likely drew inspiration from Jean Siméon Chardin's painting "Les Bulles de savon," which was created over a century earlier in 1734.

The Port of Boulogne by Moonlight

Displayed at the Musée d'Orsay, this painting is indeed a remarkable masterpiece. It captures the serene ambiance of an evening illuminated by a full moon in the port of Boulogne. It is believed that Manet painted this scene from the window of the Hotel Folkestone, where he often stayed during his summer vacations in Boulogne-sur-Mer, a coastal town in northern France.

What adds to the painting's allure is that through historical and astronomical research, experts have determined that Manet painted it during the night of August 3 to 4, 1868, around midnight. This revelation adds a sense of awe and fascination to the artwork. The painting showcases fishing boats and the wives of sailors eagerly waiting for their return, all bathed in the mesmerizing glow of the moonlight.

Manet's deliberate tribute to Rembrandt, a renowned master of light and shadow, further enriches the composition.

Jesus Insulted by the Soldiers

This remarkable work, hardly identifiable as being signed by Édouard Manet, is nevertheless his last religious subject. The oil on canvas was produced in 1865 and has an older sister entitled "Dead Christ and Angels". At the time of its reception, Manet faced strong criticism, as he was little known for his paintings of sacred art.

This painting of Christ suffering at the hands of his executioners was considered unacceptable at the time. Depicting the Son of God in such a brutal manner was unthinkable. Critics referred to the work as "M. Manet's horrible Ecce homo", alluding to one of its possible inspirations, Anthony van Dyck's "Ecce homo". Other sources of inspiration include Van Dyck's Coronation of Thorns (1619-1620) and Titian's Coronation of Thorns (1542-1543). Manet aimed to depict the barbarity endured by Christ as described in the Gospel according to Matthew.

"They stripped him and threw a scarlet robe over his shoulders. They braided a crown of thorns and placed it on his head, and they put a reed in his right hand. Then, kneeling before him, they mocked him, saying, 'Hail, King of the Jews!' They also spat on him and, taking the reed, struck him on the head."

The Kearsarge at Boulogne

This is another work for which Manet found inspiration in Boulogne-sur-Mer. Painted in 1864, it depicts the Union sloop of war USS Kearsarge anchored off the shore.

On 19 June 1864, the Kearsarge sank the Confederate raider CSS Alabama during the Battle of Cherbourg, one of the most famous naval actions of the American Civil War. Many spectators watched the battle from the French coast, and Manet was inspired to paint a picture of the event. Although he did not witness the battle himself, he relied on descriptions in the press to create an imaginary scene. Just 26 days after the event, he completed the painting and exhibited it in Alfred Cadart's printing works in Paris. The painting, now known as The Battle of the Kearsarge and Alabama, is housed in the Philadelphia Museum of Art.

Watch all our programmes on the greatest Impressionist painters on our Museum TV streaming platform!