In the bar "Le Bouchon" 1879

Edouard Manet's "In the bar 'Le Bouchon'" is an oil painting, a medium traditionally used to depict reality with accuracy. However, Manet has gone about things differently here. Look at how he’s applied the paint. It's thin, and the brushstrokes are visible, almost sketchy. He's captured a fleeting moment, rather than a carefully constructed scene. The painting is all about suggestion, inviting you to fill in the details. Now, think about the social context. Manet painted this towards the end of his career, a period when modern life was rapidly changing. Cafes and bars were becoming popular meeting places, especially for the working class. By choosing this subject, Manet is engaging with the everyday realities of Parisian life. The quick, informal brushwork reflects the pace of modern existence. The painting isn’t about polished perfection; it’s about capturing a sense of immediacy. Manet here elevates a casual scene into something worthy of artistic attention, blurring the lines between high art and the everyday.