A Man on Crutches
1878
Édouard Manet captures a solitary figure leaning heavily on crutches, his body swallowed by a voluminous coat and topped with a dark cap. The loose, rapid brushstrokes—hallmarks of his move toward Impressionism—give the man a sense of weight and weariness. Created in 1878, this sketch reflects a period when Manet himself was suffering from severe health issues, including locomotor ataxia which affected his legs. This adds a layer of personal poignancy to the work, transforming a simple street study into a raw, expressive look at human fragility.
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