Marine 1865 - 1866

Editor: This is Edouard Manet's "Marine," an undated etching at the Harvard Art Museums. The stark contrast of the etching gives it a real sense of drama, like a fleeting moment captured at sea. What do you make of it? Curator: It feels like a stolen glance, doesn’t it? Manet, a master of modern life, here gives us a turbulent sea, but rendered with such intimacy. I wonder, does the lack of a clear narrative add to its power, its modern sensibility? Editor: Absolutely. It's less about storytelling and more about feeling the raw energy of the ocean. I hadn't considered that before. Curator: Exactly! Art evolves when we open ourselves to new perspectives. It’s like the sea itself—always in motion, always revealing something new.