Line in Front of the Butcher Shop

Line in Front of the Butcher Shop is a pivotal print created by Édouard Manet (French, 1832-1883) between 1870 and 1871, executed as an etching in warm black on ivory laid paper. This graphic work was skillfully printed by Henri Charles Guérard and exemplifies Manet’s active engagement with printmaking media, even as he established himself as a leading painter of modern life.

Dating precisely to the period encompassing the Franco-Prussian War and the subsequent Siege of Paris (1870-1871), the subject matter is an immediate and profound visual document of historical crisis. The image portrays citizens queued, likely for scarce rations, directly reflecting the severe societal hardship and famine faced by the population of France during the siege. Manet, known for capturing the realities of contemporary Paris, here turns his unflinching focus to the consequences of conflict, elevating the mundane struggle for sustenance to the level of history painting.

The work resides in the distinguished collection of the Art Institute of Chicago. While Manet is primarily associated with Impressionism and large-scale oil paintings, his output of prints offers critical insight into his experimental approach to line and shadow. This etching, along with other similar works from the period, secures his status not only as a master draftsman but also as a keen observer of human resilience under duress. Art enthusiasts and historians frequently access reproductions of this significant artwork, which, having entered the public domain, continues to offer a vital perspective on Parisian life during one of the city's most challenging historical moments.