विसाव्या शतकापासून उत्तम कार्टून्सची गंगोत्री....140 Years of Manet's Chez le père Lathuille

Artist: Edouard Manet, 1879

courtesy: Wikipedia 

Michael Kimmelman, The New York Times, May 2011:

“...It helped that Manet painted like an angel and had a wicked sense of humor. I am indebted to Richard Dorment, the art critic of The Daily Telegraph of London, for dissecting so neatly the wry intricacies of “Chez le Père Lathuille,” which shows a mustachioed gigolo wooing a dowager on the terrace of an outdoor restaurant, his arm around her chair, his face pressed toward hers like a child’s into a candy shop window. She recoils, slightly, distractedly touching her plate, her eyes downcast, lips tight in embarrassment but ready to succumb. Ruthless and clinically spot-on, Manet’s picture even captures the hangdog eyes of the knowing waiter in the background, pausing discreetly until his clients’ transaction is completed....”

I wrote about this  picture on January 30 2012:
"I haven't seen more beautiful and funnier picture together than this all my life.

Look at the man, his both hands, middle-finger of his left, his right-hand grip on the glass. Follow his eyes. Look at his bow-tie, his sideburn, his moustache...

Is he listening to the lady at all? Is he seducing her? The lady seems to be charmed. I keep wondering what he would do next...will he kiss her lightly on the lips?...

Look at the waiter. What is he looking at or waiting for?

When I see this picture, a lot of quality pictures of 20th century, including some great cartoons, don't surprise me. Manet anticipates them.

Manet has said: Conciseness in art is essential and a refinement. The concise man makes one think; the verbose bores. Always work towards conciseness.

And what else are cartoons if not conciseness?"

#ChezlepèreLathuille140