Description
The painting "Two Women Drinking Bocks" by French artist Edouard Manet is an interesting work that stands out for its artistic style, composition, color, and the story behind it.
Regarding the artistic style, this work is a sample of impressionism, a movement that was characterized by the representation of light and color through loose and fast brushstrokes. Manet, although he did not belong to the Impressionist group, did share some of their stylistic principles.
The composition of the paint is simple but effective. In it you can see two women sitting at a table in a cafe, each with a mug of beer in hand. The figure on the left is in profile, while the one on the right looks directly at the viewer. The arrangement of figures and objects on the table creates a feeling of depth and space.
As for color, Manet used a limited palette of earth tones and grays, with a few brushstrokes of red and green. The contrast between the dark tone of the women and the light and luminous background stands out.
The history of the painting is curious. It was made in 1878 and is part of a series of works that Manet did on modern life in Paris. It was acquired by the famous art collector Paul Durand-Ruel, who sold it to a private collector in New York. In 2004, it was auctioned at Sotheby's for more than $2 million.
A little-known aspect of this work is that, although it depicts two women drinking beer, the original title was actually "La Cerveza", which suggests that drinking was the main theme of the work. However, when it was exhibited at the World's Fair in Paris in 1878, the title was changed to "Two Women Drinking Bocks" to avoid censorship.
In summary, the painting "Two Women Drinking Bocks" by Edouard Manet is an interesting work that stands out for its impressionistic style, its effective composition, its limited palette and its curious history.