Emile Zola
Zola,
Emile (1840-1902) French writer
and art critic; school friend of Cézanne.
Manet
was introduced to Zola in February 1866. Three months later Zola wrote
an enthusiastic essay in defense of Manet's work (L'Evénement,
May 1866), which he later expanded into a long article (Revue du XIXe
Siècle, January 1867). Manet painted this portrait as an expression
of his thanks, and it was shown at the 1868 Salon. In 1870-1903 Zola wrote
and published his novel series about the Rougon-Macquart family, including
1880 Nana and 1886 The Masterpiece, a critical characterization
of Impressionism.
Nana was a character in Emile Zola's eponymous novel Nana. Manet asked Henriette Hauser, a well-known grande coquette (courtesan), to pose for him for this picture. Henriette Hauser was the mistress of the Prince of Orange, and so was nicknamed "Citron" (lemon in French).
Nana was a Parisian courtesan, and the novel is about her life.
See: Edouard Manet Portrait
of Emile Zola, Nana.
