Young woman among the flowers 1879

Edouard Manet likely made this painting on canvas with oil paints, using brushes to apply the colors. These were common art materials in the 19th century, but Manet’s approach was anything but conventional. Look closely and you'll notice loose, visible brushstrokes, built up on the canvas. This painting technique, called “alla prima,” involves applying paint in a direct, expressive manner. Here, the colors blend together, creating a sense of light and movement. Notice how Manet suggests the details of the flowers and the woman’s dress with just a few strokes of paint. Manet was part of a generation of artists who embraced the possibilities of industrialization. The availability of premixed paints in tubes allowed artists to work more freely, capturing fleeting moments in real-time. So, next time you look at this painting, consider how the materials and techniques used by Manet played a crucial role in his unique vision.