Portrait of Alphonse Maureau

The Portrait of Alphonse Maureau is a significant late-career work by the renowned French artist Édouard Manet (1832-1883), executed between 1878 and 1879. Classified formally as a drawing, this piece utilizes pastel applied directly onto a canvas surface, which was carefully prepared with an off-white ground. This medium allowed the artist to achieve both the rapid spontaneity of sketching and the rich tonal qualities of painting.

During the late 1870s, Manet increasingly turned to pastel for portraiture, valuing its quick drying time and the luminous finish it offered, which allowed him to capture intimate psychological studies swiftly. The underlying off-white preparation provides a reflective base, enhancing the vibrance of the delicate pastel pigments. This work captures Alphonse Maureau, a figure from Manet’s social circle, rendered with characteristic vitality and precision in the details of his face and clothing. The technique highlights Manet’s ability to merge the rigorous draftsmanship inherent in drawing with the coloristic intensity associated with painting, a stylistic approach central to modern French art.

Reflecting the artistic developments in France during the late nineteenth century, this work demonstrates Manet’s continuous experimentation with medium and form. The sensitivity and freshness of the piece ensure its continued relevance; high-quality prints are frequently circulated through resources dedicated to public domain collections, allowing wider access to his mastery of the medium. This important drawing is housed in the permanent collection of the Art Institute of Chicago, where it serves as a key example of Manet’s pivotal role in the transition toward Impressionism.