The Boy with Cherries

Édouard Manet painted this charming portrait around 1858, showing a young boy holding a branch of cherries. The child's direct gaze and casual pose demonstrate Manet's ability to capture natural expressions. His bold brushwork and simplified forms already hint at the modern approach that would make him a key figure in French painting.

This early work shows Spanish influence, particularly Velázquez, whose paintings Manet studied closely. The dark background and loose handling reflect techniques he learned from Old Masters while developing his own vision. Now at the Calouste Gulbenkian Museum in Lisbon, this painting represents an important stage in his development.