Talked to a friend today about Édouard Manet, which got me thinking about the influence he had on some of my photographs. When I was thinking of how to approach the bargirl images I made in 2003 two of Manet's paintings were definite influences.
"A Bar at the Folies-Bergere, 1882"
and "Olympia, 1863"
I remember reading and studying these images (especially Olympia). The emotions he gave his subjects who worked as prostitutes was what I keyed on, I think he had those feelings just right. When you work selling sex to many men you get a tired worn out expression an indifference to those around you a sort of sad, hardened exterior.
Manet must have been quite observant or had personal knowledge of life in the bars and brothels of France, his work conveys a basic truth about the real emotions a sex worker has.
" When other artists correct nature by painting Venus they lie. Manet asked himself why he should lie. Why not tell the truth? "
Émile Zola defending Olympia as a masterpiece.
