The Smoker (Le Fumeur)

Description

A bearded smoker appears as a lightly outlined bust, with a cap defining his head and a pipe held in a raised hand at the left. Much of the sheet remains pale, keeping the figure’s few established contours distinct. Manet gives the familiar subject a restrained presence, allowing a small number of marks to make the portrait legible.

The design dates to 1879–1882; this impression from the Strölin edition of 1905 combines etching and drypoint on blue laid paper and exists in its only recorded state. Those materials distinguish the print from a drawn or painted version of a similar figure, giving its lines a particular printed character. Manet makes the subject sufficient for sustained attention, allowing the encounter to remain close and individual. The work’s interest lies in how a familiar activity can become a complete visual identity rather than a passing detail.

Read our guide to giclée prints, browse more Édouard Manet prints, or explore The Smoker (Le Fumeur).