Portrait of Monsieur and Madame Auguste Manet

Édouard Manet painted this Portrait of Monsieur and Madame Auguste Manet in 1860, depicting his own parents in a work of striking psychological depth. His father wears a dark coat with a full beard, while his mother appears in a bonnet beside him. The somber palette and direct presentation reflect Manet's emerging Realist approach.

Auguste Manet was a judge and high-ranking civil servant who initially opposed his son's artistic ambitions. The double portrait captures both parents with unflinching honesty rather than flattering idealization. Manet's mother would remain a supportive presence throughout his career, while his relationship with his father remained more complicated.

The painting measures 110 x 90 cm and hangs at the Musée d'Orsay in Paris. Created before his controversial Salon submissions like Le Déjeuner sur l'herbe and Olympia, this family portrait demonstrates the technical skill and psychological acuity that would make Manet a central figure in the development of modern painting.