Open Here I Flung the Shutter. Illustration to The Raven by Edgar Allan Poe 1875

Edouard Manet's "Open Here I Flung the Shutter. Illustration to The Raven by Edgar Allan Poe" is a 1875 lithograph that depicts a lone figure looking out of a window towards a cityscape. The figure is dramatically silhouetted against the light coming from the window, while a lone raven flies across the sky, echoing the famous poem by Edgar Allan Poe. The dark, dramatic mood of the image, with the looming rooftops and the solitary figure, are evocative of Poe's macabre and melancholic themes. Manet's masterful use of black and white lithography creates a striking visual contrast between the light and dark, emphasizing the figure's isolation. This piece is a powerful example of Manet's ability to capture a moment of intense emotion through the use of simple yet effective artistic techniques.