The Urchin

The Urchin is a powerful lithograph created by Édouard Manet (French, 1832-1883), executed sometime between 1868 and 1874. The piece was expertly printed by the notable Parisian firm, Lemercier et Compagnie. This complex medium is characterized as a lithograph in black, distinguished by the careful use of scraping techniques on the stone to enhance areas of light and highlight the figure’s texture. The artist’s intention was to achieve a greater sense of dramatic contrast, making the figure pop against the background.

The impression was pulled onto a delicate chine paper, itself featuring subtle blue and red fibers, which was then permanently affixed to a heavier ivory wove backing sheet, a technique known as chine collé. This multi-layered process, common among serious 19th-century printmakers, provides a heightened luminosity and depth to the final printed image. Manet frequently explored the marginal characters and everyday realities of contemporary France, moving away from traditional academic subjects toward depictions found in the Parisian streets.

As a precursor to Impressionism and a core figure in the Realist movement, Manet devoted equal attention to both his paintings and his graphic works. This lithograph showcases his ability to capture the psychological depth of his subject, implied to be a street child or young working-class individual, utilizing strong tonal modeling rather than explicit line work. The finished The Urchin stands as an important example of French graphic art from the period. This highly sought-after work is classified as a print and resides within the permanent collection of the Art Institute of Chicago. As a masterwork now widely considered part of the public domain, prints of this lithograph remain accessible for scholarly study and public appreciation worldwide.