The Flying Raven, Ex Libris for The Raven by Edgar Allan Poe 1875

Edouard Manet made this print, The Flying Raven, as an illustration to Edgar Allan Poe's famous poem. Manet’s images create meaning through visual codes, cultural references, and historical associations. It was made in France, a country in the midst of enormous social change. The rise of industrial capitalism and the emergence of a new class of urban consumers also shaped artistic production. The availability of new technologies like photography and printmaking also influenced the proliferation of art. This image, in particular, embodies the spirit of artistic and literary experimentation that defined the period. Manet's work often challenged traditional artistic conventions. The bold, stark imagery reflects the artist's avant-garde approach and critiques the institutions of art. To understand art better, we can use resources such as historical archives, literary sources, and critical theory. The meaning of art is always contingent on social and institutional contexts, and its interpretation shifts over time as we bring new understandings of it.