Madame Edouard Manet (Suzanne Leenhoff, 1829–1906)
ca. 1873
Édouard Manet captured his wife, Suzanne Leenhoff, in this strikingly loose and candid portrait around 1873. Before tying the knot, Suzanne was actually his piano teacher, and the two carried on a secret romance for over a decade. Notice how Manet uses rapid, sketchy brushstrokes and a muted grey palette to make her look like she was caught mid-stride, rather than posing stiffly for a formal portrait. It’s a wonderfully intimate glimpse into the artist's private life, showing the woman who stood by him through all his controversial art scandals.
Views: 4