The Salmon 1869

Curator: Welcome. Today, we’re looking at Édouard Manet's "The Salmon," created in 1869. It’s currently housed at the Shelburne Museum in Vermont. Editor: My first impression? The cool blues and yellows offer such a vibrant counterpoint to the muted browns and whites. There's a tactile contrast too, a certain lushness in the play of light and shadow across these surfaces that intrigues me. Curator: Indeed, but look closer at what this composition signifies within Manet's practice. Think of the burgeoning fish trade, a newly accessible food source for Parisian society. It reflects a shift in food consumption and its societal implications. Editor: Agreed, the salmon, positioned centrally on the draped cloth, undeniably claims attention. The still life as an allegory for fleeting existence. But notice Manet's brushstrokes, his command over tone and hue—especially those subtle tonal gradations of the fish itself—it has a certain liveliness, a deliberate artistic gesture that challenges traditional artistic representation. Curator: Yet, we can't dismiss the industrial means through which this imagery could be reproduced and distributed to an ever-growing consumer base, altering the accessibility of art and challenging academic convention. How does his technique influence societal ideas of "high art"? Editor: Interesting! For me, I see the knife strategically placed—a hint of violence disrupting this tranquil tableau, as the anticipation of an unseen diner who could be us the viewer! What does this implied presence invoke within the beholder's sensibilities? A visual metaphor, yes. Curator: Indeed. Manet was commenting on more than art; the commodification of everything was ripe during this period, transforming culture into something bought and sold. That transformation itself is vital to appreciating Manet's practice. Editor: Certainly, examining Manet through solely one viewpoint neglects his influence, but it does bring in elements to an artistic evaluation that may or may not bring clarity to how an individual looks at "The Salmon" by Manet.