The Railway, 1873 by Manet
This painting shows Édouard Manet’s interest in scenes of everyday life. The young girl faces a steam locomotive as she holds onto a metal fence. Steam powered trains were a new invention in the first part of the 19 th century. Here we see ordinary people doing ordinary activities. In Manet’s time it was uncommon that such a casual scene would be a worthy subject for a work of art. By painting it, Manet brings respect to all people. What sits in the lap of the young womanwearing a black hat?What does the girl hold onto? How many black bars stretch across the painting? What kind of snack lies on the bench?
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