Analyzing Manet's Facial Expression

1. What do you think Manet was trying to imply with the bartenders facial expression?

Response: I think Manet in this image was trying to imply us the struggle of the lady being a bartender through her facial expressions. Her facial impressions are clearly showing us how unhappy she is by working at a bar. It’s like she is the focal point of the image. The viewer would foremost notice the sad eyes and pale face she got while working. It looks like she is so uninterested by her job and lost in some other thoughts. For sure she doesn’t want to be here and work as a bartender. One of the reasons for such a sad face could be that she really hates her job and is exhausted from doing the same type of work she does in the bar. Even in the picture Manet shows how she is serving a drink to a guy and looks detached from the bar scene. Working as a bartender is indeed a very tough job. Seeing everyone drinking, dancing, having a good time can make the worker feel left out and sad. Pleasing the kind of people there could also be a problem in the bar. Because in …show more content…
The sad face in such a pretty room makes me think why is she so sad? However, when I read your descriptive analysis I figure out about the woman’s background and her struggles that clear out my questions about that sad face. Now I understand the artist’s intention behind creating this image. The artist wanted us to see how she was an American artist but from Nigeria and her hardships while growing up in a different place. How hard it was for her to embrace her culture born along with the culture where she was living now. The different art of styles Crosby chosen to work with showed her and her family’s hardships but also embracing from where she comes and being proud about