Madame Manet at the Piano 1868

"Madame Manet at the Piano" (1868) by Édouard Manet captures the artist's wife, Suzanne Leenhoff, seated at a piano in their Parisian home. Manet's signature loose brushstrokes and flattened perspective create a sense of immediacy, emphasizing the intimate domestic scene. The casual pose of Madame Manet and the simplicity of the composition, with the piano as the dominant feature, exemplify Manet's rejection of traditional academic art and his preference for modern life as subject matter. The painting is a testament to Manet's enduring fascination with his wife, whom he often depicted in his works.