The Smoker II

The Smoker II by Édouard Manet French, 1832-1883, is an important example of the artist’s late career exploration into graphic media, executed between 1879 and 1882. Classified as a print, this work utilizes the technique of drypoint in brown ink applied to ivory wove paper. Drypoint requires the artist to scratch lines directly into a copper plate with a sharp needle, a method that creates a rich, velvety texture due to the burr of metal pushed up at the edges of the line.

Manet was a central figure in 19th-century art in France, celebrated for his depictions of contemporary life. He often used printmaking to explore the intimacy of portraiture and genre scenes with immediacy. Here, the technique allows him to render the subject—likely a man smoking a pipe—with a casual informality characteristic of the Impressionist era, emphasizing tone and atmosphere over precise definition. The use of brown ink instead of traditional black lends a softness and warmth to the composition, highlighting the contemplative mood of the sitter.

This finely detailed work demonstrates Manet’s enduring mastery of line and shadow, even as his health declined in the final years of his life. It resides within the esteemed prints and drawings collection of the Art Institute of Chicago. As the legacy of 19th-century masters is increasingly made available, high-resolution images and fine art prints of significant pieces like The Smoker II are frequently offered through public domain programs, allowing scholars and art enthusiasts worldwide to study the subtle genius of the French master’s graphic production.