Édouard Manet, Masked Ball at the Opéra, 1873

Manet’s canvas presents a wide view of therowdy festivities at the annual Opéra ball. A leg dangles over a railing. A figure costumed as Polichinelle enters on the left. The ball was a place where upper classes and the demimonde [i.e. the world of less respectable women]met. “Imagine,” suggested the newspaper Figaro, “the opera house packed to the rafters, the boxes furnished out with all the pretty showgirls of Paris…” There is little doubt about the sexual nature of these encounters between wealthy men and young actresses and showgirls in daring dress. In the center a woman stands on the arm of an elegant man. Probably she is an upper-class woman who, by wearing a mask, is rendered anonymous.

Manet posed several of his friends for this painting—writers, artists, and musicians—and even included himself. He is the bearded blond man at right who looks out toward the viewer. A dance card at his feet bears his signature.