(Paris 1832 - Paris 1883)
1879
Oil on canvas - 92 x 112 cm
"This is the modern life I have been talking about" (Joris-Karl Huysmans)
Édouard Manet brought painting into the modern era. Beyond producing art exclusively in the studio, the artist's ambition was to revive "great painting". While initially developing a genuine revolution in painting techniques by abandoning the contours of forms in favour of strong colour contrasts, he also turned away from purely historical and religious subjects to focus on portraying the psychology of his characters.
In doing so, the French painter caused a scandal in the 1870s by presenting open-air scenes of modern life at official salons. This work, described by Emile Zola as "charmingly cheerful and delicate in tone", is set the gardens of "Père Lathuille", a café in the Batignolles neighbourhood of Paris. A zealous young man is courting an obviously older woman. In the background, a waiter is watching the game of seduction between the two lovers. His gaze is turned towards the spectator, who is a voyeur of a scene that was considered immoral at the time.