Portrait of Léon Maître

Does this portrait belong in a gallery of Impressionist paintings? The austere realism, darkly clad subject, and dim interior setting contrast sharply with the light, brushy landscapes nearby. Moreover, the artist was an outspoken critic of the Impressionists, dismissing them as mere “dilettantes who produce more noise than art.” Nonetheless, Henri Fantin-Latour maintained close friendships with many Impressionist artists, and although his work seems relatively conservative, he developed a unique style by applying the restrained manner of the old masters to his modern subjects. Notice how he artfully uses the sitter’s angled cane, soft gloves, top hat, and white cuff to subtly enliven his composition.