“The Suicide” is an artwork created by Edouard Manet around 1880 in Paris, France. Rendered in oil on canvas and belonging to the Impressionist movement, this genre painting measures 38 x 46 cm. Currently, the artwork is housed in the E.G. Bührle Foundation, Zürich, Switzerland.
The artwork portrays a somber and dramatic scene, capturing the moment after a man has taken his own life. The setting appears to be a modest interior, likely a bedroom. The central figure, a man, lies across a bed with a slackened posture, suggesting the finality of death. He is dressed in a white shirt, now marred by a prominent stain of blood near his chest, indicative of the self-inflicted act. His right hand holds a pistol loosely, further reinforcing the grim narrative. The room is dimly lit, with shadows accentuating the overall melancholic atmosphere. Manet’s use of bold, expressive brushstrokes adds to the raw and poignant representation of this tragic event.
