Portrait of Charles Baudelaire, Full Face, after a photograph by Nadar 1868

Edouard Manet created this portrait of Charles Baudelaire after a photograph by Nadar, sometime in the mid-1800s. In this print, Manet's use of etching captures a striking contrast between light and shadow. Notice how the dense network of lines in the background throws the figure into stark relief, almost severing him from his surroundings. This sharp contrast intensifies Baudelaire's gaze, giving it a penetrating quality. Manet's interest in the materiality of his medium is evident here, with the etched lines themselves creating texture and depth. Rather than offering a straightforward likeness, Manet uses the formal qualities of printmaking to suggest something of Baudelaire’s complex character. The result is a portrait that challenges the traditional portrait format, inviting ongoing interpretation.