Horsewoman, full face

Impressionist painting began in France in the late 19th century, when a number of painters, among them Manet, Renoir, Monet and Degas, moved away from the classical painting of the time and formed a group, creating their own exhibition in 1863, the Salon des Refusés, or Exhibition of Rejects, which was considered to be the beginning of modern painting, and where Manet showed his famous work "Déjeuner sur L’Herbe", or Luncheon on the Grass.

New subjects were introduced, such as gardens, urban and country landscapes, scenes from everyday life and the entertainment of the time, such as dancers and horseracing. The impressionist technique was totally innovative, and drawing became unimportant. Colour and loose brushstrokes were the real protagonists, and even composition became less regular, with cut-off, unfinished figures that gave the feeling of a photographic snapshot.

Manet bridged the gap between Realism and Impressionism, and he had a major influence on the latter. In 1865, he travelled to Spain, where he was able to admire the work of Velazquez, and this was to have a huge effect on his entire oeuvre. He had close ties to Monet and the Impressionist movement, although he continued to show his works at the Paris Salon, whenever they were accepted.

In this picture of the Horsewoman, Fullface, which he painted just a year before his death, Manet uses very loose brushstrokes, merely suggesting the details of the hands and the background of the picture. The hat, however, is perfectly drawn. This work was Summer, and was part of a series on the four seasons represented by female figures, and which he was unable to finish.


(c) (R) 2013, MUSMon com S.L.
Text (a) Catalina Serrano Romero

Picture
Source: Wikimedia Commons
Author: Riggr Mortis
Permission: This artwork is in the public domain: The author of this artwork died more than 70 years ago. According to E.U. Copyright Law, copyright expires 70 years after the author's death. In other countries, legislation may differ.