The Masked Ball at the Opera

'The Masked Ball at the Opera' is a fascinating genre painting by the influential French artist Édouard Manet. Created in the spring of 1873, this painting beautifully captures the essence of an opulent masked ball at the opera house. Painted on a durable canvas, Manet employed the oil medium to achieve greater depth of color and texture. The artwork masterfully reflects his Impressionist style with its spontaneous brushwork highlighting the tension and drama of the event. The masterpiece was generously donated to the National Gallery of Art in Washington, D.C., by Mrs. H. Havemayer in 1982.