Madame Édouard Manet (Suzanne Leenhoff, 1830–1906)

Suzanne Leenhoff became Manet's wife in 1863, after a long and somewhat mysterious prior relationship (she may have been the mother of a child whose paternity was obscured). This 1873 Metropolitan Museum portrait is one of the most important of the several Manet made of Suzanne, showing her in middle age in a domestic interior. Unlike the confrontational directness of his public subjects, the portraits of Suzanne are intimate and tender. Suzanne was an accomplished pianist who held musical salons and was a central figure in Manet's private life for three decades. This portrait captures her in a relaxed, unposed moment characteristic of Manet's mature portrait style.

Manet uses his characteristic dark background to isolate the figure, with Suzanne's light-coloured dress and pale face forming the primary chromatic statement. The handling is loose and assured, with summary brushwork in the background and more deliberate attention to the face and hands. The palette is warm and intimate.