What is Manet’s masterpiece?

"The Bar of the Goddess Fun House"

"The Bar of the Goddess Fun House" (French: Un bar aux Folies Bergère; English: Young Girl on the Threshold of the Ganden at Bellevue) It is an oil painting on canvas created by the French painter édouard Manet in 1882 and is now in the collection of the Courtauld School of Art, University of London, UK.

The painting depicts a scene from the Paris nightclub Les Halles. Most of the images in the painting appear in the mirror, and the scene reflected behind the waitress is of cheerful and festive modern life.

The crowded and energetic scene in the ballroom essentially symbolized Parisian nightlife at the time. But as a real image, the waitress looks at the audience with sad and empty eyes. The painting conveys a sense of alienation and isolation, and reflects the luxurious and empty nightlife of Paris, France in the 19th century.

Extended information

Creative background

In 1882, people invented a new photographic device that could take photos of moving objects at every moment. . This technology, called "continuous photography," was soon used in the production of textbooks, allowing people to accurately analyze the movement of objects. The adoption of new technologies also brings new inspiration to artists and stimulates the creation of new works.

The painter Manet consciously responded to the challenges posed to painting by emerging photographic technology. Manet tried to capture the superficial and superficial glimpses of modern society through pictures, and at the same time created "Bar Counter of the Lounge of the Goddess" without showing any sense of accusation or criticism. This painting was the last work created by Manet. It was not until Manet's death that the official salon exhibited the work and awarded him the "Legion of Honor".

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