“The Spanish Singer,” crafted by Édouard Manet in 1860 in Paris, France, is an exemplary piece of Realism art. Created using oil on canvas, this genre painting measuring 147.3 x 114.3 cm is currently housed at the Metropolitan Museum of Art (Met) in New York City, NY, US.
The artwork depicts a male figure, possibly a Spanish musician, seated on a green bench while playing a guitar. The man is dressed in traditional attire, including a black hat and a white headscarf. He appears to be in mid-performance, which evokes a sense of movement and sound. The setting is simple, with a dark, plain background that places the focus entirely on the subject. In the bottom right corner, one can observe a bottle and a few onions scattered on the floor, contributing to the rustic and realistic atmosphere of the scene. The artist’s signature, “ed. Manet,” is visible on the bench, affirming the authenticity of the piece.
