“The Old Musician,” created by Edouard Manet in 1862 in Paris, France, is an oil on canvas artwork embodying the Realism art movement. This genre painting, measuring 187 x 248 cm, is housed at the National Gallery of Art in Washington, DC, US.
The artwork portrays an elderly musician seated prominently in the foreground, holding a violin. He is surrounded by a group of individuals, including children, who appear attentive or intrigued by his presence. The setting is outdoors, under a partly cloudy sky, indicated by the artist’s application of broad, expressive strokes. The composition effectively captures a moment of everyday life with a realistic portrayal of the figures’ expressions and attire, evoking a sense of genuine human experience and transient engagement with the musician’s performance. The subject matter and style align with the principles of Realism, emphasizing common, relatable moments over idealized or romanticized scenes.
