Édouard Manet and The Girl in a Bar at the Folies-Bergère

'A Bar at the Folies-Bergère' (1882) by Édouard Manet; Courtauld Institute of Art, London

This is one of the greatest paintings by Édouard Manet, born on 23 January 1832. It was his last major work and was on exhibition at the Paris Salon in 1882. I have always liked this painting. A girl standing behind the bar, looking unhappy and detached in the midst of a room crowded with people having a good time. Her desolateness is in sharp contrast with the cheerfulness of the rest of the crowd. The images in the mirror are not being reflected correctly which makes the painting apart from beautiful also interesting. Since the Folies-Bergère was a middle-class brothel in Manet's days, it is very possible that the barmaid isn't who she appears to be. Numerous extensive studies have been made of this painting so if you are interested, read more on the net.