Artwork
Boy with Pitcher (La Régalade)
Boy with Pitcher (La Régalade) is an oil painting by the Realist artist Edouard Manet. It dates from 1866 and is held in the collection of the Art Institute of Chicago.
About this work
Overview
Boy with Pitcher (La Régalade) is a painting by Édouard Manet, executed in oil paint in 1866. It is part of the collection at the Art Institute of Chicago.
Subject & Meaning
The painting depicts a young boy in a moment of simple, everyday activity: drinking from a large, ornate pitcher. His face tilted back and eyes closed, the boy is fully engaged in the act, with water spilling down his chin. The composition focuses attention on the boy and the pitcher, set against a dark, nondescript background that enhances their visibility.
Technique & Style
Manet employed bold brushstrokes to render the textured elements of the scene, notably the boy’s loose, billowy shirt and the pitcher itself. The overall execution conveys a sense of simplicity alongside a nuanced capture of the subject’s immediate physical experience.
History & Provenance
Created in 1866, the painting is now housed at the Art Institute of Chicago, though specific details of its journey to the museum are not provided in the available information.
Context
While the immediate context of creation is not elaborated here, 'Boy with Pitcher' reflects Manet’s interest in capturing everyday life, a theme prevalent in mid-19th-century French art, bridging between traditional representation and the emerging trends of the time.
Legacy
The painting’s legacy is implicit in its inclusion in a major museum collection, suggesting its recognized value within Manet’s oeuvre and late 19th-century French painting, though specific influences or notable exhibitions are not detailed.
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Artist & collection
Artist
Édouard Manet didn’t have much time to make his mark—he died at 51—but he used every year.
