Monsieur et Madame Edouard Manet (1868/1869) by DEGAS, EdgarKitakyushu Municipal Museum of Art
This work by the Impressionist painter Degas is a portrait that was given to his friends Mr. and Mrs. Manet.
It portrayed Mrs. Manet playing the piano, with Manet listening behind her.
According to one theory, Manet sliced off a part of the canvas because he was dissatisfied with the depiction of his wife.
Degas later saw this and took back the painting in anger.
It is said that an art dealer added a canvas cloth to this work, which was found in Degas' studio after his death.
It later became part of the collection of the industrialist Matsukata Kojiro, and was brought to Japan.
In 1974, the Kitakyushu Municipal Museum of Art purchased this work to commemorate its opening, which attracted much public attention.
