Created from high-quality wood, milled with simple clean lines and presented with a satin finish. Includes an off-white mount that will not discolour or fade with age. - Simple, elegant design - Premium, fine art paper with a gently textured surface - Handmade by specialist picture framers - FSC certified off-white mat / window mount - Delivered ready for hanging

Visual Description:
"Oysters," painted by Edouard Manet in 1862, is a still life that captures a moment of simplicity and opulence through the depiction of oysters and lemons on a wooden table. The arrangement is straightforward yet meticulous, emphasizing Manet's mastery in rendering commonplace subjects with grandeur. The oysters, slightly ajar with their glistening, tender flesh displayed, are painted in hues of creamy whites and soft grays. The shells have a tactile quality, the roughness of the exterior contrasting with the moist interior.

Scattered around the oysters are wedges of fresh lemon, their vibrant yellow color providing a stark contrast to the muted tones of the shells. The lemons are painted with a zesty immediacy, their presence suggesting a sensory experience beyond sight—one can almost taste the tartness they imply.

The table is rendered simply, allowing the objects to take center stage. The background is unadorned, a soft wash of neutral tones that enhances the focal point without distraction. Manet’s brushwork is fluid yet deliberate, capturing the play of light on different textures.

Artist and Context:
Édouard Manet (1832–1883) was a pivotal figure in the transition from Realism to Impressionism, often considered the progenitor of modern painting. "Oysters" is an example of his early experimentation with still life, a genre that allowed him to explore the properties of light, texture, and composition without the complexities of human narrative.

At the time Manet created "Oysters," he was increasingly diverging from traditional academic art standards, which laid the groundwork for the Impressionist movement. His approach to color, light, and subject matter in this painting prefigures the boldness and informality that would characterize Impressionism.

Artistic Significance:
In "Oysters," we see evidence of Manet’s revolutionary eye for detail and his ability to infuse still life with an almost narrative quality. The painting bridges the gap between strict realism and the more impressionistic tendencies that would later define his work. Despite its seeming simplicity, "Oysters" is a study in contrasts—the rough texture of the shells against the smooth flesh, the vibrant lemons against the muted background—which showcases Manet's skill in creating dynamic compositions from static subjects.

Provenance:
The original painting "Oysters" by Edouard Manet is housed in the National Museum Cardiff, part of the National Museum Wales collection. Museums such as this one play an important role in preserving works that mark significant shifts in the history of art.

Additional Noteworthy Information:
Manet's "Oysters" was part of a broader interest in representing contemporary life and everyday objects, a thematic concern that ran counter to the mythological and historical subjects preferred by academic painting of his time. This work, while understated, demonstrates Manet's keen observation and innovative spirit, qualities that would deeply influence the trajectory of modern art.