Value in Art: Manet and the Slave Trade – eBook

Description

In Value in Art: Manet and the Slave Trade (PDF), acclaimed art historian Henry M. Sayre embarks on a compelling exploration of the concept of “value” in art criticism, illuminating the intricate politics that underpin Manet’s masterpieces.

Have you ever wondered how terms like “high in value” and “low in value” came to describe the interplay of light and dark in art? In this groundbreaking work, Sayre traces the etymology of this terminology back to the stunningly controversial painting, Édouard Manet’s Olympia.

Traditionally, art critics characterized light and dark through the lens of musical analogies—comparing them to higher and lower tones, notes, and musical scales. But it was the influential writer Émile Zola who revolutionized this discourse in his 1867 essay about Manet, coining the phrase “law of values.” By delving into Zola’s intricate argument and examining several pivotal works by Manet, Sayre uncovers a layered meaning behind Zola’s phrasing; it serves as both an economic metaphor and a critique of the political economy surrounding slavery. In Manet’s intriguing portrayal, Olympia and her maid become symbols of exchange, a poignant commentary on the French Empire’s involvement in the transatlantic slave trade.

Richly researched and provocatively argued, this insightful study reveals the profound historical and political implications embedded within Manet’s art. By locating the influence of slavery at the foundational roots of modernism, Value in Art stands as a crucial and enlightening contribution to our understanding of art history.

ISBNs: 978-0226809960, 978-0226809823

NOTE: This purchase includes only the ebook version of Value in Art: Manet and the Slave Trade in PDF format. Access codes are not provided.