A Bar at the Folies-Bergère 2023

A Bar at the Folies-Bergère 2023. Ellie, age 18. Reworking Manet Exhibition 2023 | The Courtauld. Image credit: Finn Arschavir and Tasmiya Tasmi

Ellie, age 18 

Oil paint on paper 

This visualisation re-imagines Manet’s famous painting from 1882 titled ‘A Bar at the Folies-Bergère’ as it might appear in today’s society, incorporating the music hall’s modern architecture. 

Manet’s original painting is unusual in that it portrays so prominently a woman working behind a bar, which was uncommon in art at that time. The woman looks directly at the artist, apparently prepared to attend to the needs of the bar’s patrons. 

In my interpretation, I have deliberately portrayed the woman adopting a more dismissive attitude and having her interest diverted towards the lure of her mobile phone, rather than attending to the duties for which she is employed. 

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