Young woman in a negligee 1882

Edouard Manet likely created this painting with oil on canvas, in Paris. The softness and intimacy of the image is owed to the material. Unlike many of his contemporaries, Manet often painted directly onto the canvas without elaborate preparation. The marks of his brushstrokes give the painting an immediacy, as though we are catching the sitter in a fleeting moment. You can see where he has layered and blended the paint to create subtle gradations of tone and texture. Her skin has a luminous quality against the muted blue backdrop and bright blue of the negligee, making it seem almost alive. Consider the labor and skill required to achieve this effect with the materials and techniques available at the time. The industrial production of paints had expanded the options available to artists, but the mastery of brushwork was a skill that took years to develop. By looking closely at the materials and the making process, we can appreciate the artistry and craft that went into this image.