Artwork
Woman with a Fan
Woman with a Fan is an oil painting by the Realist artist Edouard Manet. It dates from 1862 and is held in the collection of the Hungarian National Gallery.
About this work
Overview
The canvas is owned by the Hungarian National Gallery, where it is displayed among the museum’s 19th‑century European collection.
Édouard Manet’s 1862 oil painting, titled Woman with a Fan, presents a seated female figure rendered in a restrained palette. The canvas is owned by the Hungarian National Gallery, where it is displayed among the museum’s 19th‑century European collection. The work exemplifies Manet’s interest in portraiture during the early phase of his career, combining a straightforward composition with subtle atmospheric effects.
Subject & Meaning
The sitter is identified as Jeanne Duval, a woman who appears in several contemporary depictions. She is shown poised on a chair, her gaze meeting the viewer with a calm, contemplative air. The fan she holds, a common accessory in mid‑century fashion, adds a hint of elegance while also serving as a visual counterbalance to the dark interior.
Technique & Style
Manet employs a limited range of tones, allowing the white dress with faint blue stripes to stand out against a muted, shadowed backdrop. The chiaroscuro achieved through soft lighting creates a three‑dimensional presence, while the brushwork remains fluid, avoiding excessive detail. This approach reflects the artist’s transition from academic conventions toward a more modern, impressionistic sensibility.
History & Provenance
Completed in 1862, the painting entered the Hungarian National Gallery’s collection in the early 20th century, though the exact acquisition date is not widely recorded. Its presence in a Central European institution highlights the broader diffusion of Manet’s work beyond France during the period following his death.
Context
Created during a time when Manet was experimenting with portraiture and genre scenes, Woman with a Fan aligns with his broader exploration of contemporary life and the representation of women. The work’s intimate setting and the sitter’s direct engagement echo the artist’s interest in capturing fleeting moments of personal presence within a modest interior.
Own this work as a print
Artist & collection
Artist
Édouard Manet didn’t have much time to make his mark—he died at 51—but he used every year.
