The Sea, plate 7 from Le Fleuve

The Sea, plate 7 from Le Fleuve is a distinguished 1874 print created by Édouard Manet (French, 1832-1883), conceived as an illustration for the poet Charles Cros’s cycle of verses, Le Fleuve. This complex production involved multiple specialized collaborators, including master printers Auguste Delâtre and Cochet, and publishers Librairie de l'eau-forte and Richard Lesclide, highlighting the collaborative nature of avant-garde publishing in 19th-century France.

The work is executed using the delicate and challenging combined techniques of etching and drypoint in black ink, printed onto ivory laid paper. Manet uses the drypoint needle to achieve rich, velvety lines that give texture and depth to the maritime subject, capturing the elusive atmosphere of the open sea. This piece exemplifies Manet’s proficiency in the graphic arts, a skill often overshadowed by his revolutionary paintings, yet crucial to his broader output as a foundational figure of modernism.

Although renowned for his contributions to painting, Manet frequently engaged with the graphic medium, allowing him to quickly disseminate his work and explore formal ideas with a spontaneity distinct from oil on canvas. This print, illustrating a literary text, reflects the dynamic relationship between visual and literary arts prevalent among French Realists and Impressionists.

This rare impression is classified as a print and is a significant example of French graphic artistry held within the permanent collection of the Art Institute of Chicago. Given its age and status, detailed high-resolution images of this piece are often made available through museum initiatives, placing this key work by Manet into the public domain for global study.