A Bar at the Folies-Bergère

A Bar at the Folies-Bergère was Édouard Manet’s last major work, completed a year before his death. The painting’s ambiguous reflection in the mirror behind the barmaid — which does not obey the laws of optics — creates a subtle spatial puzzle that has fascinated viewers and scholars for over a century. The barmaid’s detached, melancholy expression adds to the painting’s enduring mystery.