Artwork
The Convalescent (La convalescente)
The Convalescent (La convalescente) is an ink print by the Impressionist artist Edouard Manet. It dates from 1877 and is held in the collection of the National Gallery of Art. Created in 1877, "The Convalescent" (La convalescente) is a print by Édouard Manet executed in etching and aquatint on laid paper.
About this work
Overview
Created in 1877, "The Convalescent" (La convalescente) is a print by Édouard Manet executed in etching and aquatint on laid paper. The work measures roughly the size typical of Manet’s late prints and is rendered in a dark brown tone that unifies the image’s delicate lines and atmospheric shading.
Subject & Meaning
The composition presents a young woman whose head is turned slightly away from the viewer. Her loose hair frames a calm, introspective expression, while a hand rests lightly near her chin, suggesting a moment of quiet contemplation. The sparse background, composed of loosely drawn lines, contributes to a dreamlike ambience that reinforces the sense of recuperation implied by the title.
Technique & Style
Manet combines traditional etching with aquatint, allowing him to juxtapose fine linear detail with broad tonal washes. The dark brown ink is applied in varied densities, creating depth without overt modeling. This blend of crisp contours and soft, diffused shading gives the figure a subtle three‑dimensionality while preserving an overall sense of mystery.
History & Provenance
The print was produced during the final decade of Manet’s career, a period marked by his increasing interest in printmaking. Original impressions were likely issued in small editions, typical of his practice, and have since entered museum and private collections specializing in 19th‑century French prints.
Artist & collection
Artist
Édouard Manet didn’t have much time to make his mark—he died at 51—but he used every year.
Marguerite De Gas, the Artist's Sister (Marguerite De Gas, soeur de l'artiste)
Bust of an Old Woman Turned in Profile to the Right
Portrait of a Woman with Wide Brim Hat
The Artist's Mother Seated at a Table, Looking Right
Reflections
The Artist's Mother Seated, in an Oriental Headdress
Krankenschwester (Nurse)
The Artist's Mother Seated, in an Oriental Headdress
Old Woman Seated
The Artist's Mother Seated at a Table, Looking Right