Lola de Valence

"Lola de Valence" is a seminal print created by Édouard Manet French, 1832-1883, in 1863. This etching is rendered in black ink on delicate ivory laid Japanese paper, a choice of material that lent a particular luminosity to the final image. Classified as a Print, this work is intrinsically linked to Manet’s larger, celebrated oil painting of the same name. The artist utilized the etching process to explore line, depth, and the dramatic interplay of light and shadow, demonstrating an early commitment to graphic techniques as a key aspect of his production in France.

Manet’s inspiration for the subject derived from the visit of the Royal Spanish Ballet to Paris in 1862. The sitter, dancer Lola Melea, is depicted in her theatrical costume, embodying the era's widespread fascination with Spanish themes, known as Hispanophilia. Unlike academic portrayals, Manet presents the figure with a distinct immediacy and realism, capturing the modernity of the performance subject. His sharp, decisive lines and the stark contrast created by the black ink foreshadow the shift toward avant-garde sensibilities that would define his career.

As a crucial work reflecting the artist’s transition toward Impressionist ideas, this print holds significant art historical value. This specific etching of Lola de Valence resides in the distinguished permanent collection of the Art Institute of Chicago, offering scholars access to one of the finest extant examples of the master's early graphic prints. The technical precision and cultural resonance of the work solidify its standing as a cornerstone of 19th-century French art.