On this day in 1832, one of my favorite painters, Édouard Manet, was born. Manet was a French modernist painter, one of the first 19th-century artists to paint modern life, and a crucial figure in the transition from Realism to Impressionism.
Manet concluded his long series of "women on a sofa" paintings with this 1873 portrait of Nina de Callias. Known for her mercurial temperament—swinging between elation and despair—Nina’s life was marred by neurotic tendencies and alcoholism, which ultimately led to her insanity and untimely death at the age of 39. Born Marie-Anne Gaillard, she was also known as Nina de Villard but gained fame under the name of her brief husband, Hector de Callias, a writer and journalist for Le Figaro.
At the time of this portrait, Nina was around 30 years old and renowned for hosting one of the most dazzling artistic salons in Paris. She is depicted wearing one of the "Algerian" costumes she favored for entertaining her guests. The wall decoration in the background is a recognizable element from Manet's studio, also featured in his other works. The arrangement of fans on the wall appears to be purely decorative rather than symbolic, echoing the popular Japonisme style of the time—a trend also embraced by artists like Whistler, Tissot, and Renoir. This decor mirrors the eclectic, Japanese-inspired furnishings of Nina's own residence.
On Édouard Manet's birthday, we're giving you a 25% discount on our stunning Impressionists Notebook! Go ahead and visit our brand new DailyArt Shop website. :)
P.S. We've selected the 10 best portraits by Édouard Manet. How many of them do you know? If you want to learn more about this fascinating artists, here's Manet's life in 5 short facts.