The Execution of Maximilian

Edouard Manet

1868, published in 1884 · Lithograph on chine collé; first state of three · Drawings and Prints

Napoléon III installed the Hapsburg emperor Maximilian to power in Mexico in 1864, an endeavor that quickly failed, ending with the execution of Maximilian by firing squad. News of the execution quickly reached Paris, and Manet, an ardent Republican, set to work on a series of works depicting the event. Inspired by photographs and newspaper reports, Manet’s composition, with its contrasting areas of light and dark, enhances the scene’s dramatic impact. Ivins noted that Manet "saw everything broadly and simply as befitted a temperament that habitually found ease in splotches of tone, and as often as possible evaded the discomfort and concentration required to focus attention upon a line." Meant for wide distribution, the lithograph was suppressed by the state.

Artist

Edouard Manet

Date

1868, published in 1884

Medium

Lithograph on chine collé; first state of three

Department

Drawings and Prints

Credit line

Rogers Fund, 1921