Description of the picture:
Bar at the Foley Berger – Eduard Manet. 1882. Oil on canvas. 96×130 cm
Foley-Bergard was one of the most recognizable establishments in Paris, not only because of its variety show and cabaret, but also because art bohemia gathered here not infrequently. Edward Manet also came here. The radiance of night life, and loneliness, coupled with alienation against the backdrop of fuss and festivities – these are the main leitmotifs of the latest painting by Eduard Manet.
As a model, Manet asked to pose for the familiar barmaid Suzon and his own friend Henri Dupree. Moreover, the painter made sketches right in the bar, to the right of the stage.
Critics had a lot of questions with the definition of the genre of this outstanding work of Manet. If you look closely, you can find features and genre scenes, and portraits, and still lifes – sheer eclecticism. In addition, the work is distinguished by elegance of execution and sophisticated sadness.
Behind the marble counter is a young barmaid, a mirror behind her reflects a large number of visitors in the hall. It seems worth listening to, and you can clearly feel the rumble and laughter of the walking crowd, interspersed with the cries of particularly noisy guests. Opposite the girl is a young gentleman in a top hat, but she is not looking at the visitor – her gaze is directed inward. The figure of a pensive girl seems to be sandwiched between two spaces separated by a counter: a real world and a surreal world.
Having hardly got to the Salon of 1882, the picture attracted everyone’s attention – it was closely examined, discussed a lot, expressed opinions in the interpretation, but unanimously recognized that the world was a real masterpiece with which to be reckoned."