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Student Artwork Guide

The Balcony

Édouard Manet, 1869

Name Class Date
Édouard Manet, The Balcony (1869). Public domain. See this canvas under a moving light: the drawing, the true colour under the varnish, the bare pigment

The facts

Artist
Édouard Manet originaluniqueart.com/en/artists/edouard-manet/
Artist’s dates
1832 – 1883
Painted
1869
Medium
Acrylic On Canvas
Original size
170 x 124 cm
Movement
Realism Painting ordinary people and ordinary work exactly as they are, without making them prettier or grander.
Influences
Francisco Goya's Majas on the Balcony
Notable elements
Four figures on a balcony; Berthe Morisot, Jean Baptiste Antoine Guillemet, Fanny Claus, and possibly Léon Leenhoff.
Style
Realism, Impressionistic tendencies
Subject
Bourgeois life, social interaction

Copyright This work is in the public domain. Édouard Manet died in 1883; copyright lasts 70 years after the artist’s death, so it ended in 1953.

Source: OriginalUniqueArt.com — accessed Oct. 5, 2026

The Balcony — Édouard Manet Part 1 · The artwork

In context

The Balcony — Édouard Manet

How big is it?

The original measures 170 × 124 cm (height × width), drawn here beside an adult of average height.

When was this painted?

  1. 1830
  2. 1840
  3. 1850
  4. 1860
  5. 1870
  6. 1880

Row above: the years. Row below: how old the artist was at the start and at the end of each span — 0 at birth, 51 at death.

Painted when the artist was 37. The artist lived to 51. 121 of the 325 dated works by this artist in our catalogue came earlier.

Shaded: the lifetime of Édouard Manet (1832–1883) ▲ this work, 1869 every dated painting, decade by decade

First works: up to 1865 Main working years: 1865–1879 Late works: from 1879

Those three bands split the works this catalogue has a date for into a first quarter, a middle half and a last quarter. They are not the artist’s complete output: a thin stretch may be a gap in the record rather than a quiet spell. The same years with the artist’s life laid along them

Compare with

Pick one work above: name two things it shares with this one, and one thing that's different.

More works to set beside this one: originaluniqueart.com/en/art/similar/edouard-manet-the-balcony-5ZKCBX-en/

Colours

Measured from the image

    Main colour

    Phthalo Green #222322

    Catalogued palette

    • #222322
    • #C2C1BE
    • #4C5953
    • #858A84

    These colours inside the artist’s whole palette Find other paintings by colour

    Main colour name
    Phthalo Green
    Intensity
    Monochromatic How saturated and varied the colours are, from a single toned-down hue to many bright ones.
    Contrast
    Statement How much the colours differ in lightness and saturation across the picture.
    Harmony
    Softly Mixed Palette How well the colours work together, from clashing to fully unified.
    Brightness
    Shadow How light or dark the picture reads overall, from deep shadow to bright highlight.
    Saturation
    Muted How pure and strong the colours are, from near-grey to fully vivid.

    Where in the world is this painting looked at?

    • under 1%
    • 1–3%
    • 3–8%
    • 8–20%
    • 20% and over
    This painting alone has too few recorded visitors to map, so the plate reads every work by Édouard Manet over the last twelve months — 70 countries in all. Where these figures come from

    The ten leading countries

    1. 1 China 38.4%
    2. 2 France 7.5%
    3. 3 United States of America 7.3%
    4. 4 Hong Kong 5.8%
    5. 5 Singapore 5.1%
    6. 6 Japan 4.0%
    7. 7 Spain 3.4%
    8. 8 Italy 2.8%
    9. 9 Romania 2.2%
    10. 10 Argentina 1.8%
    11. · 60 other countries 21.7%

    Find the three darkest countries on the map. Is the museum that keeps this painting in any of them? Write down one reason people far away might look at it.

    The 20 most looked-at works by Édouard Manet

    1. 1 Olympia, 1863 16.1%
    2. 2 A Bar at the Folies-Bergere, 1882 8.5%
    3. 3 The Luncheon on the Grass, 1863 5.7%
    4. 4 The Railway 1.8%
    5. 5 Bar at the Folies-Bergere 1.7%
    6. 6 Nana, 1877 1.6%
    7. 7 Music in the Tuileries Garden, 1862 1.3%
    8. 8 Spring (Study of Jeanne Demarsy), 1882 1.3%
    9. 9 Boating, Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, 1874 1.3%
    10. 10 The Execution of the Emperor Maximilian of Mexico, 1867 1.3%
    11. 11 Rue Mosnier with Flags, J. Paul Getty Museum, Ma, 1878 1.2%
    12. 12 Bouquet of violets, 1872 1.0%
    13. 13 Two roses on a tablecloth, 1883 0.9%
    14. 14 The Waitress 0.9%
    15. 15 Corner in a Cafe-Concert, 1878 0.9%
    16. 16 Luncheon on the Grass, 1863 0.7%
    17. 17 The Waitress (also known as The Beer Serving Girl), 1878 0.7%
    18. 18 Clair de Lune sur le Port de Boulogne (Moonlight Over the Port of Boulogne), 1869 0.6%
    19. 19 The Escape of Rochefort, 1880 0.6%
    20. 84 The Balcony, 1869 this painting 0.2%

    Together these works take 48.3% of all the attention this artist's paintings received over the last twelve months. The catalogue holds 489 works by this artist, of which 400 were looked at at least once. This painting ranks 84 of them, with 0.2% of that attention. The same counts, month by month

    Bars measure attention, not quality. Pick the work at the top and this one: name one thing that might make a painting famous beyond how well it is painted.

    Source: OriginalUniqueArt.com — accessed Oct. 5, 2026

    The Balcony — Édouard Manet Part 2 · In context

    About this artwork

    The Balcony — Édouard Manet

    A Moment Suspended: Unveiling Manet’s *The Balcony*

    Edouard Manet's *The Balcony*, painted in 1868-69, is more than just a depiction of figures on a Parisian balcony; it’s a pivotal work bridging Realism and Impressionism, capturing a fleeting moment steeped in ambiguity and modern life. Measuring 170 x 124 cm, this oil on canvas resides within the esteemed collection of the Musée d'Orsay in Paris, continuing to captivate viewers with its subtle complexities.

    Historical Context: A Shift in Artistic Focus

    The late 19th century witnessed a growing fascination with portraying contemporary bourgeois life. While many artists embraced this trend, Manet distinguished himself through his unconventional approach. *The Balcony* emerged during a period of significant social and artistic change, challenging traditional Salon painting conventions. It was exhibited at the Paris Salon in 1869 alongside another groundbreaking work by Manet, *Olympia*, both provoking considerable debate and solidifying his position as a leading figure in modern art. Inspired by Francisco Goya’s Majas on the Balcony, Manet reinterprets the theme with a distinctly Parisian sensibility.

    Composition & Characters: A Study in Isolation

    The painting presents four figures arranged on an ornate balcony overlooking what appears to be a bustling city street, though details are obscured. Two women dominate the foreground; one seated and directly engaging the viewer with a confident gaze, while the other stands beside her, holding a fan adorned with flowers. Behind them stands a man in dark attire, his presence imposing yet somewhat detached. A partially visible figure – likely Manet’s son Léon – lurks within the interior space. The composition is striking for its deliberate lack of interaction between the figures; they exist in close proximity but appear lost in their own thoughts, creating an atmosphere of quiet isolation.

    Technique & Style: Realism with Impressionistic Hints

    Manet’s masterful brushwork and use of color are central to the painting's impact. He employs a restrained palette dominated by whites, creams, and blacks, punctuated by touches of blue and red. The contrast between the women’s luminous white dresses and the man’s dark suit is particularly striking. While rooted in Realism – aiming for truthful depiction – Manet anticipates Impressionistic techniques through his loose brushstrokes and focus on capturing a fleeting moment. He doesn't strive for photographic accuracy, but rather an impression of reality. The flattened perspective further emphasizes this modern approach.

    Symbolism & Interpretation: A Window into Modernity

    The symbolism within *The Balcony* remains open to interpretation. The balcony itself can be seen as a stage, separating the figures from the world below and highlighting their social position. The flowers and fan held by the standing woman suggest femininity and perhaps a sense of performance or artifice. The lack of connection between the characters speaks to the alienation and emotional distance often experienced in modern urban life. The painting invites viewers to contemplate the complexities of human relationships and the nature of observation itself.

    Emotional Impact & Legacy

    *The Balcony* evokes a sense of melancholy, mystery, and quiet contemplation. It’s a work that rewards close viewing, revealing new nuances with each encounter. Its initial reception was mixed, but it has since become recognized as a landmark achievement in art history. Manet's innovative approach paved the way for Impressionism and continues to inspire artists today. The painting remains a powerful statement about modern life, social dynamics, and the enduring human condition.

    For Collectors & Interior Designers

    A Statement Piece: *The Balcony* is an exceptional artwork that adds sophistication and intellectual depth to any collection.

    Versatile Aesthetic: Its muted color palette complements a variety of interior design styles, from classic to contemporary.

    Conversation Starter: This iconic painting will undoubtedly spark engaging conversations among guests.

    High-Quality Reproductions Available: Explore exquisite, handmade oil painting reproductions at AllPaintingsStore.com to bring the beauty of Manet’s masterpiece into your home or office.

    Further Exploration

    To delve deeper into the life and work of Edouard Manet, visit Wikipedia. Discover more exceptional artworks at AllPaintingsStore.com. Consider exploring other notable works by Manet such as Woman with Parrot, Le Déjeuner sur l’Herbe, and The Execution of Emperor Maximilian.

    Source: OriginalUniqueArt.com — accessed Oct. 5, 2026

    The Balcony — Édouard Manet Part 3 · About this artwork

    Artist and museum

    Artist

    Édouard Manet

    Born in Paris, France

    The Architect of Modernity

    To look at a canvas by Édouard Manet is to witness the precise moment when the polished illusions of the past collapsed under the weight of contemporary reality. He did not seek to decorate the walls of the bourgeoisie; he sought to confront them. While his contemporaries often retreated into mythological safety, Manet forced the viewer to acknowledge the grit and the glare of 19th-century Paris. His work functions as a blunt instrument that dismantled the academic hierarchy of subjects. He stripped away the comfortable distance provided by historical allegory, replacing it with the unsettling directness of a woman staring back from a modern street or a café.

    The impact of his technique remains visible in every brushstroke that prioritizes the physical reality of paint over the illusion of depth. He rejected the seamless, invisible finish demanded by the Salon, opting instead for facture—a visible, energetic application of pigment. By using stark contrasts and a flattened pictorial space, he reminded anyone looking at his work that they were observing a constructed image on a flat surface. This was not an error in perspective; it was a deliberate rejection of the window-like transparency that had dominated Western art since the Renaissance.

    A Rebellion Rooted in Tradition

    Manet’s radicalism was not born from ignorance of the past, but from a deep, analytical study of it. His time spent copying Old Masters in the Louvre provided him with a technical foundation that he would later use to subvert tradition. He drew heavily from the bold compositions and light manipulation found in the works of Caravaggio and Velázquez. From the Spanish masters, he learned how to utilize black as a positive color and how to employ fluid brushwork to suggest form without excessive detail. This was not an imitation of the past, but a dissection of it.

    His early life in Paris suggested a path far removed from the studio. Born into a comfortable family, his father initially pushed for a career in the navy or law. After failing his entrance exams for the naval academy, Manet turned toward the arts under the instruction of Thomas Couture. This tension between his bourgeois origins and his revolutionary output created a unique friction in his work. He possessed the social standing to navigate Parisian intellectual circles, yet he used that access to promote an aesthetic that many found vulgar or incompetent.

    The Scandal of the Real

    The mid-1860s provided the stage for Manet’s most significant confrontations with the public. The 1863 Salon des Refusés became a site of intense controversy, largely due to his inclusion in the exhibition of rejected works. His painting Le Déjeuner sur l'herbe shocked audiences not merely because of its nudity, but because of its lack of mythological context. The figures were undeniably modern, stripped of the divine or the ancient, leaving only the raw presence of contemporary Parisians. This refusal to idealize his subjects was met with widespread condemnation from critics who found his realism too blunt.

    This pattern of provocation continued with Olympia in 1865. By reimagining Titian’s Venus of Urbino through the lens of a contemporary prostitute, Manet stripped away the protective layer of myth. The subject did not invite a gaze of admiration for a goddess; she demanded recognition of a person. This period of his career established the fundamental shift from Realism toward the beginnings of Impressionism. His influence on the movement was structural rather than purely stylistic:

    He championed the use of alla prima painting, or wet-on-wet technique, to capture immediate atmospheric effects.

    He introduced a flattened perspective that challenged the mathematical precision of academic composition.

    He utilized strong, contrasting tones to create a sense of modern, fragmented light.

    The Enduring Verdict

    Manet’s career was cut short by his death in 1883, yet the trajectory of art had already been irrevocably altered. He acted as the essential bridge between the heavy, grounded themes of Realism and the fleeting, light-focused explorations of the Impressionists. While he never fully adopted the label of an Impressionist and continued to seek recognition from the official Salon, his methods provided the vocabulary for the avant-garde. He proved that the artist's duty was not to provide a beautiful escape, but to document the complexities and contradictions of the era.

    Where to read more

    Find this online

    QR code linking to the download page for The Balcony

    originaluniqueart.com/en/art/download/edouard-manet-the-balcony-5ZKCBX-en/

    Cite this artwork

    MLA
    Manet, Édouard. The Balcony. 1869, https://originaluniqueart.com/en/art/edouard-manet-the-balcony-5ZKCBX-en/
    APA
    Manet, Édouard (1869). The Balcony [Painting]. https://originaluniqueart.com/en/art/edouard-manet-the-balcony-5ZKCBX-en/
    Chicago
    Édouard Manet. The Balcony. 1869. https://originaluniqueart.com/en/art/edouard-manet-the-balcony-5ZKCBX-en/
    Harvard
    Manet, Édouard (1869) The Balcony. Available at: https://originaluniqueart.com/en/art/edouard-manet-the-balcony-5ZKCBX-en/

    Source: OriginalUniqueArt.com — accessed Oct. 5, 2026

    The Balcony — Édouard Manet Part 4 · Artist and museum

    Look closely

    The Balcony — Édouard Manet

    Look closely

    Answer in your own words. There are no wrong answers here — only answers you can explain.

    1. What catches your eye first, and why?
    2. Which colours or shapes create the mood — and what is that mood?
    3. How many faces can you find? ____ (our catalogue counts 3 — do you agree?)
    4. Our catalogue files this work under: balcony scene, parisian life, social portrait. Do you agree? What would you add, or take away?
    5. Look back at Olympia (1863), earlier in this guide. Name two things it shares with this work, and one that is different.

    Your response

    Write a short paragraph about this artwork. Use the facts from the earlier parts of this guide, and your answers above.

    Source: OriginalUniqueArt.com — accessed Oct. 5, 2026

    The Balcony — Édouard Manet Part 5 · Look closely

    Art quiz

    The Balcony — Édouard Manet

    How well do you know this artwork?

    Tick one answer for each of the 5 questions below. Each has exactly one correct answer.

    1. 1. In what museum is Edouard Manet's 'The Balcony' currently housed?

      • A The Louvre Museum, Paris
      • B Musée d'Orsay, Paris
      • C The Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York

    2. 2. Which artistic movement is 'The Balcony' most closely associated with?

      • A Impressionism
      • B Cubism
      • C Realism

    3. 3. Who is one of the notable figures depicted on the balcony, also a painter in her own right?

      • A Berthe Morisot
      • B Mary Cassatt
      • C Rosa Bonheur

    4. 4. What artist's work served as an inspiration for Manet when creating 'The Balcony'?

      • A Diego Velázquez
      • B Francisco Goya
      • C Johannes Vermeer

    5. 5. The composition of 'The Balcony' can be described as depicting a scene of...

      • A Mythological grandeur
      • B Everyday bourgeois life
      • C Historical battle

    My score: ____ out of 5

    Answer key — for the teacher

    This starts a fresh printed page, so it can simply be left out of the copies.

    1B · 2C · 3A · 4B · 5B

    Check any answer against the catalogue record for this painting

    Source: OriginalUniqueArt.com — accessed Oct. 5, 2026

    The Balcony — Édouard Manet Part 6 · Art quiz

    Questions & Answers

    Where and for what purpose is "The Balcony" recommended?

    "The Balcony" by Édouard Manet is recommended for accent, ideally in a living room. Use and space together guide where a reproduction fits.

    Where can I see a preview of "The Balcony"?

    The Preview page of "The Balcony" lets you preview the artwork before ordering.

    What color intensity does "The Balcony" by Édouard Manet have?

    The colors in "The Balcony" by Édouard Manet have a monochromatic intensity.