The Smoker c. 1879 - 1882

Editor: Here we have Edouard Manet’s "The Smoker," a small etching. It's so minimal, but the character is instantly recognizable. What statement do you think Manet was making with such a seemingly simple portrait? Curator: Consider the rising visibility of the working class in Parisian society during Manet's time. How does this intimate portrayal, stark and unidealized, challenge the traditional heroic depictions of figures in art? Was Manet attempting to democratize his subjects? Editor: I see what you mean, it feels like he's making the ordinary worthy of attention. I hadn't thought about it that way before. Curator: Exactly. By focusing on a common figure, Manet disrupts established hierarchies within the art world. What do you think such a disruption would have meant for viewers at the time? Editor: I guess it made art more relatable. I will definitely look at Manet’s work differently now!