Édouard Manet's A Bar at the Folies-Bergère

Édouard Manet "A Bar at the Folies- Bergére" 1882

A Bar at Foiles- Bergére" has fascinated its viewers since it was first presented. As there are so many various interpretations the painting has remained to be a cause for many discussions. Trough history critics and other enthusiasts have tried to understand the story behind the painting. First thing that is usually confusing to the viewer is the composition of the painting. The fact that the reflection of the barmaid is moved to the right, the amount of the bottles reflected from the mirror behind her and other odds concerning the theatre reflecting behind her. The key to the story lies in the face of the barmaid, whose facial impression again raises many questions. Her face to me is helpless, innocent and it seems to reflect some kind of regret or unease, maybe because of something she has already done or thinks she has to do but don't want to. This seems to go together with the interpretation that she is also selling herself a she is selling the other goods we can see on the counter. In addition in the mirror we can see her having a conversation with a gentleman, who does not exist on our side, where we should be able to see his back in front of the barmaid. For me that face of a young woman looking at us almost in despair represents the reality, her real self. The mirror is about who she is expected to be or who she is maybe pretending to be- a part of her profession. The real her would not act the same as the one in the mirror. That is maybe why there is no male figure to be seen on this side of the counter. The reflection of her for me seems collapsed and degraded, however, the woman in front of us looks younger, stronger and also in a way has more dignity. That clearly comes out of the way Manet has painted the reflection duller and with far less details. But this unfathomable expression of hers might also hide a completely different story. She is looking a the busy nightclub/theatre and is thinking about her lost love. The mirror reflects her imagination- the man she is thinking about and her leaning towards him. Nevertheless every new viewer who is lucky to see this masterpiece will have its own thoughts and understanding of it and for me this is even more interesting than the stories told by professionals.