Why are items seen in a painting meaningful?  Is a scene in a painting supposed to mean just one thing, or is it subject to interpretation?  Art is beautiful because it can be or mean whatever you want.  Although, an artist may have one or two ideas in mind behind the true meaning of the painting, a person can be inspired by art for their own reason.  In “A Bar at the Folies-Bergère,” a woman is looking extremely perplexed at the audience.  She is staring at the customer as if she hates her life.  When the viewer first glances at this painting it is a bit confusing.  I examined it for some time, weighed others’ opinions, and became more aware of certain pieces of the painting.  The piece was painted in 1882 by Eduoard Manet. (Wikipedia). 

At first glance, it is hard to understand the painting.  I first thought there were two women bartenders, who looked and dressed the same.  I started trying to understand the meaning behind the painting.  Then, I realized the bartenders are the same person, and the painting shows a reflection in the mirror.  I initially thought there were two separate women because of their posture.  The woman staring directly at us seems annoyed.  When I thought I was looking at two separate women, the back of the woman seemed more inviting.  Once I realized it was the same woman, I felt I understood the meaning in the painting better.  The young woman was a server, who appears to hate her life, and what she does for a living.  During the time period featured in the painting, the bartenders were prostitutes.  The back reflection is so much friendlier and inviting because of the outsiders’ perspective.  Although the woman is unhappy, it only matters what others think.  Her customers see her reflection differently than she sees herself on the inside.    

Next, I think the woman’s facial expression gives us more insight.  It is calm and depressed, yet screaming with so much power on the inside.  You can see the woman’s pain.  Everyone around her is happy, drinking with friends, but she is screaming on the inside.  A lot of people can relate to this thought in some way.  I believe everyone has a time in their life when they feel trapped, or sad about their current life situation.  I can relate to this painting specifically because I felt out of place in high school.  People may have seen me as a happy, modern student, but that is not how I actually felt.  I believe an artist expresses emotions hoping to connect to their audiences. 

Color tones in a painting can explain or add to the story.  Manet chose very dark colors in this piece.  Most of the people are dressed in black or navy blue clothing.  Honestly, the only items with vibrant colors are the items on the bar.  Manet chose the darker color scheme to display the woman’s emotions.  She is morbidly sad.  Brighter, more vibrant colors give off a sense of happiness and energy.  The choice of dark color tones sends a clear message of the mood and emotions an artist is expressing.  

Another item in the painting that I believe relates to the main point of inner-sadness is the bowl of oranges.  They are extremely bright, especially in a painting so dull with darker colors.  At first, I did not think the oranges were significant until I started to understand the entire painting more clearly.  I researched the presence of fruit, specifically oranges in art.  Oranges traditionally signify a sense of class.  They give off the air of higher class, although this woman is not a part of it.  The oranges are present to attract the bar’s customers.  These customers are upper class people who want to be surrounded by this essence.  Similarly, the woman in the painting is a prostitute trying to attract customers that will pay high amounts of money.  Edouard Manet includes the bowl of oranges to express the level of class and emphasize the woman’s sorrow. (The Fruit of Promise).

 Another clue that the bartender is a prostitute is the jewelry and accessories the woman is dressed in.  These workers did not have a lot of money but were showcased in a way to attract customers.  The owners and bosses would essentially rent the women nicer items to make them seem high class.  No man wants to be with a woman who looks poor.  Class has always been relevant in society, but extremely so at this point in time.  I think both the oranges and the expensive jewelry express the bartender’s true sadness.  She must put on a “mask” to impress people.  Things like oranges and jewelry will make others more interested.  Meanwhile, she is miserable on the inside.   

Lastly, the mirror displays images of people in the background.  The people in the background are sitting, and enjoying their evenings.  The people are not extremely detailed which I believe is done on purpose.  They are not the main focus of the painting.  All of the men and women are dressed extremely nice.  They are wearing top hats and gowns, which signifies their high level of class.  This helps an audience better understand the society and surrounding lifestyle this female prostitute not only lives among, but cannot ever experience.  

In conclusion, this painting includes many items that tie an entire message together.  The oranges and the jewelry illustrate a false level of sophistication and class.  This leads to customers thinking the woman is something that she is not, which we can see through the reflection in the mirror.  Although there are several parts of this artwork that illustrate meaning, it all ties together to make one giant picture of an individual’s deep thoughts and emotions.  
