A Bar at the Folies-Bergère (Un bar aux Folies Bergère)
Painting on canvas • Édouard Manet (French, 1832–1883)
Style & Movement
Impressionism / Realism (transitioning between traditional French painting and Modernism)
Medium & Technique
Oil on canvas, employing Impressionist brushwork, rapid dabs of paint for light effects, and a complex use of mirrors to create depth and spatial ambiguity.
Creation Period
1882
Dimensions & Format
96 cm × 130 cm (37.8 in × 51.2 in); Landscape format
Subject Description
A barmaid named Suzon stands behind a marble counter at the Folies-Bergère. The background is a massive mirror reflecting the crowded music hall, including a customer being served by her (though the reflection is anatomically displaced). Symbolic elements include Bass Pale Ale bottles, oranges (associated with prostitution in 19th-century Paris), and the detached expression of the worker amid urban spectacle.
Condition & Value Assessment
Condition Assessment
Excellent (Preserved in a controlled museum environment)
Estimated Market Value
Priceless / In excess of $150,000,000 (Based on historical importance and rarity)
Auction Estimate
$100,000,000 - $200,000,000+ (Hypothetical, as the work is held in a permanent public collection)
Provenance History
Purchased from the artist's estate by Emmanuel Chabrier in 1884; eventually acquired by the Courtauld Institute of Art in 1934.
Art Historical Significance
Manet's final major work and a masterpiece of modern art. It is celebrated for its complex perspective, commentary on social class and gender in Parisian nightlife, and its role in bridging the gap between Realism and Impressionism.
Notable Features
The intentional distortion of the reflection is the most discussed feature, creating a sense of psychological isolation. Signed 'Manet / 1882' on one of the labels of the wine bottles at the bottom left.
Condition Issues
Stable but exhibits fine age-related craquelure across the paint surface; minor yellowing of historic varnish layers typical for its age.
Conservation Recommendations
Maintain in a climate-controlled gallery (50% RH, 20°C); use non-reflective, UV-protective glazing; periodic surface inspection for varnish oxidation.