Luncheon on the Grass
12:00 AM |
| Edouard Manet, Luncheon on the Grass, 1863 |
Édouard Manet’s Luncheon on the Grass stands out to me as one of the finest examples of impressionist era pieces because of Manet’s freshness, attention to his audience, juxtaposition of figures and setting, and willingness to paint the taboo. French citizens first got a taste of Manet’s thought-provoking, scandalous work in 1863. Two finely dressed gentlemen sit back comfortably, immersed in discussion, seemingly unmindful of the two naked women that encircle them.
The brilliance of this work, like most impressionist era paintings, stems not from the technical precision of the composition, line, perspective, form or figures like the classical masters delivered. Rather, the work's raw brushstrokes, harsh lighting and rough qualities seem to provoke and shock the viewer, who Manet intends to catch off guard.
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