Self-Portrait by Edouard Manet, 1878As is well-known within the art community, this fabulous painting by Edouard Manet was sold at auction recently. The price tag far exceeded other paintings of his that have heard the hammer in the past but it still lagged far behind other artists like Matisse and Picasso. I do not begrudge the latter artists their respective fame and I certainly acknowledge their talent and influence. The response of the press, however, to this rare self-portrait has been upsetting at best. The New York Times noted that it was too intellectual to have the appeal of other artists and quoted a dealer to have said it "put a damper on the evening." The BBC quoted an Art Journalist who, when explaining the lack of interest in the work, said that it appeared too much like the work of an 'Old Master.' Though I realise the majority of the world's interest is not captivated by Manet in the same way mine is, I feel that ignorance permeates these articles and the writers would have done well to attempt to explain these standpoints, and perhaps give a bit of context instead of wowing readers with dollar signs.
