Strawberries 1882

Strawberries is an oil on canvas painting, made by Édouard Manet sometime before his death in 1883. Manet was a flâneur, an observer of Parisian life, known for his modern, sometimes controversial paintings. This still life, however, feels different. The luscious strawberries, piled high in a simple wicker basket, invite us into a world of sensory pleasure. The red of the fruit is almost defiant against the muted background, a celebration of color and form. Manet painted this piece during a time of personal struggle with his health. Perhaps this painting was an assertion of life, a focus on the simple, sensual pleasures that illness can make one appreciate more deeply. Its intimacy stands in contrast to the grand narratives of the Parisian art scene. This isn’t a commentary on society; it's an intensely personal moment, a quiet rebellion against the artist's encroaching mortality.