Artwork
Man Wearing a Cloak [recto]
![Man Wearing a Cloak [recto], by Edouard Manet, charcoal, 1855](https://artifactworldgallery.com/img/edouard-manet--man-wearing-a-cloak-recto--6f165c0376318d82-w1024.webp)
Man Wearing a Cloak [recto] is a charcoal drawing by the Impressionist artist Edouard Manet. It dates from 1855 and is held in the collection of the National Gallery of Art.
About this work
Overview
Man Wearing a Cloak [recto] is a charcoal drawing on wove paper created by Edouard Manet in 1855.
Subject & Meaning
The drawing depicts a figure standing in profile, enveloped in a heavy cloak. The subject's posture is stiff, suggesting they may be concealing or holding something.
Technique & Style
Executed in loose, expressive charcoal strokes, the work eschews detailed rendering in favor of quick, gestural marks. This approach emphasizes the texture of the cloak and the overall pose of the figure.
Context
The sketch is associated with the Realist movement, characterized by its focus on direct observation and unidealized representation.
Artist & collection
Artist
Édouard Manet didn’t have much time to make his mark—he died at 51—but he used every year.
