Les gitanos (The gypsies)

Edouard Manet (1832-83) was born into an affluent Parisian family, and was encouraged by his uncle to pursue a career in the arts. Manet received initial training from the history painter Thomas Couture, but quickly became dissatisfied with conventional painting. He was attracted to modern subjects; scenes of the cafes, boulevards and racetracks, as well as both the grand and poor souls of Paris. He often painted these scenes on large canvases, celebrating modern life on a heroic scale. Many of Manet's works caused shock and controversy, most notably his infamous nude Olympia (1865; Musée d'Orsay, Paris). His politically charged painting and prints also drew censorship from authorities. Only later in his life did Manet receive recognition for his artistic contribution, and is regarded by some as the father of Impressionism.

Les Gitanos depicts a group of gypsies, as the title implies. It shows a standing man with a guitar on his back, a sitting woman and child to the right, with another man drinking behind. When we are dealing with an artist with a reputation as formidable as Manet's, it can be dangerous to be too critical. But the fact was that he wasn't a particularly sophisticated or distinguished printmaker compared with considerably less heralded contemporaries such as Bracquemond, Buhot and Legros. That said, the lineage with Picasso's celebrated outcasts and circus performers of some forty years later, is evident.

Les Gitanos was not Manet's first attempt at etching. But it was his first etching to be published. Several lifetime and posthumous editions of this etching exist. In its first appearance in September 1862 , the print was part of the first folio published by the Société des Aquafortistes that Alfred Cadart had just created to promote modern etching. The folio included etchings by Corot, Daubigny and Jongkind, among others. Te Papa's impression is from the second and final state.

Sources:

Scottish National Galleries, https://www.nationalgalleries.org/art-and-artists/artists/edouard-manet

Roulot Fine Prints, http://roulotfineprints.com/edouard-manet-les-gitanos.html

Dr Mark Stocker   Curator, Historical International Art    May 2018