Spanish Ballet
Manet was captivated by a Spanish dance troupe that performed in Paris in 1862, and he rushed to capture their fiery energy on canvas. The central dancer, often identified as the famous Lola de Valence, strikes a dramatic pose while her troupe surrounds her with guitars and castanets. Baudelaire, Manet's friend and fellow art lover, was so enchanted by Lola that he wrote a poem about her, declaring her beauty surpassed all the 'dark treasures' of the world. The loose, energetic brushstrokes show Manet breaking away from stiff academic traditions, paving the way for the Impressionist movement he would soon help launch.
- Technique
- Oil on canvas
- Material
- Canvas
Location: Phillips Collection, Washington, D.C.
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