Teacher's Guide: 19th Century Paris and the Folies-Bergère
Éduoard Manet's final masterpiece, A Bar at Folies-Bergère, offers a glimpse of what life was like in 19th and early 20th century Paris, France. This publication includes a summary of the history and general information on the Belle Époque, a summary on the artists and creative individuals who frequented these clubs, the varied types of performances at clubs such as the Folies-Bergère, a writing activity, and a bibliography. These materials should prove useful for teachers of various disciplines. Studying the vibrant lifestyle of Parisian nightclubs will teach students about the politics, societal roles, arts and innovations of the time.
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Learning Resources
Teaching Resource: Éduoard Manet and Conveyed Emotion
Art historians have struggled for over a century to analyse the gaze not only behind, Suzon, the barmaid in A Bar at Folies-Bergère, but a great many of Édouard Manet's painted portraits. This publication includes a summary of the artist, his body of work and techniques, a brief history of Impressionism, current art historians' theory and views on Manet's facial expressions and capturing emotion, a writing activity, and a bibliography. These materials should be useful for art teachers studying impressionism and Manet's body of work in the classroom.
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Children's Worksheet: Manet
Hide-and-Seek
Can you spot all of the items from this worksheet inside the Courtauld Gallery? Print out this children's worksheet prior to your visit to entertain younger audiences through a rousing hunt for objects and hidden treasures in Manet's works.
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Philip Pullman, Picture This at Somerset House – Writers' Talks in the Courtauld Gallery
In the first of a series of six talks by celebrated authors on their favourite paintings at London's Courtauld Gallery, the His Dark Materials author considers Manet's ambiguous masterpiece. Initiated by Ruth Padel, for the Guardian. Audio courtesy of YouTube.
Student Resource: Analysing the Angled Reflection
Suzon's indeterminable facial expression, the focal point of Manet's masterpiece A Bar at the Folies-Bergère, is not the only aspect of this painting that has baffled art critics and historians for over 100 years. This student resource will address and analyse the highly contested mirror in Manet's background, and why it seems so far off from what Suzon and the gentleman patron's reflection should realistically be? This publication includes a summary of critiques and analyses of the mirrored image from 19th century critics to present day art historians, a writing activity, and a bibliography.
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