Édouard Manet (1832–1883)
1878
Oil paint on canvas
78 x 84 cm
Acquired by Oskar Reinhart in 1953
In 1877, Édouard Manet began work on a large painting of the interior of the Café de Reichshoffen in Paris. Dissatisfied with the composition, he split the canvas in two and reworked both halves. The left-hand part became Au café; the right-hand portion was acquired in 1924 by the National Gallery, London, with funds provided by Samuel Courtauld.
The relationship between the figures is intentionally unclear. Manet’s broad brushwork enhances the sense of a passing moment. The poster on the café’s window advertises a troupe of trapeze artists performing at the Folies-Bergère and draws a direct link to Manet’s famous depiction of this music hall, which is part of The Courtauld’s collection.