Sunday, March 22, 2009

F: The Fifer by Eduoard Manet


I recently became the recipient of an incredible library of art books that were in the library of Mrs. Gladys Zutz, a fabulous lady and artist. I was browsing through a book on Eduoard Manet and came across The Fifer, a portrait of a young boy in the Light Infantry Guard. This painting is amazing. The absent background; the dark red and black clothing; and the gold and white accents draw you into the youthful face.

The subject of the painting apparently created some controversy. According to a Princeton-based blog on the image, "On first glance, Fifer (1866) is simply a painting of an innocent young boy. In reality, however, it is one of Manet’s oddest “portraits” of Victorine Meurent: she was one of several models who sat for the painting. As a result, her eyes seem to peer strangely from another’s face. The fifer’s intense but abstracted gaze and light, half-formed eyebrows seem lifted directly from The Street Singer, and the hand that blocks Victorine’s mouth in that painting is echoed here by the fife before the boy’s lips (Armstrong 161)" (http://blogs.princeton.edu/wri152-3/f05/nlagerfe/the_fifer.html)

In the book Manet: 1832-1883 (The Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York 1983)" The young model was a boy trooper in the Imperial Guard at the Pepiniere barracks..." The author goes on to say that it was suggested that the model was Victorine Meurent and there was a resemblance, however nothing beyond the eyes resembled the woman. The Princeton website uses this resemblance to show a significance in neutralizing her sexuality. The Met book indicates that the "identification matters little." To me this discussion doesn't matter at all.
What matters to me is the impact of the image. The flatting of the painting, simplifying the shapes and their relationships while maintaining perfect balance and contrast is what makes and impact on me. The shining metal is in stark contrast to the sash and the drape and texture of the uniform. The uniform is simple and clean and defines the figure. The ornate hat, the row of buttons, the line of the fife, and the curve of the sash and stripes all draw you almost forcefully into the eyes. Interestingly, the uniform is a "dress-down" or fatigue uniform of the day (think about the camoflaged uniform you see today). The grey background allows all of the color to snap forward.

The Met book presents the subject as "a familiar and commonplace figure assigned a new significance." This sparks thoughts about the nature and significance of the subjects of works of art. I often get stuck trying to say something with my paintings and art, rather than just painting or drawing. Perhaps my next painting will be something simple. I can try to focus on simple shapes, colors, and light. As an intellectual persuit, less is more is amazingly difficult.

In the end, I like this picture. It speaks to me.

3 comments:

  1. Nice idea for a blog. Planned obsolescence, but none the less a great idea. And it shall be the first one that qualifies as a quality blog that I will follow. Good Luck

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  2. Very interesting thoughts, as usual. I'm not as familiar with this painting, so I appreciated the mini-history lesson and your thoughts on how the picture speaks to you.

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  3. This afternoon, I will be showing a class of first graders this painting. I can't wait to see their faces when I tell them the model is a girl!

    Nice Post.

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