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Manet and Degas: a meeting in New York

From September 24, 2023 to January 7, 2024, the Metropolitan Museum of Art presents “Manet/Degas”, an exhibition that examines one of the most significant artistic dialogues in the genesis of modern art.

Source: The Metropolitan Museum of Art · Image: Edgar Degas, “In a Café (The Absinthe Drinker)”. Paris, Musée d’Orsay / Édouard Manet, “The Plum”, 1877. National Gallery of Art, Washington

Born only two years apart, Édouard Manet (1832–1883) and Edgar Degas (1834–1917) were friends, rivals, and, at times, antagonists whose work shaped the development of modernist painting in France. By examining the ways in which their careers intersected and presenting their work side by side, this exhibition investigates how their artistic objectives and approaches both overlapped and diverged.

Through 160 paintings and works on paper, Manet/Degas takes a fresh look at the interactions of these two artists in the context of the family relationships, friendships, intellectual circles, and sociopolitical events that influenced their artistic and professional choices, deepening our understanding of a key moment in 19th-century French art history.

“Manet and Degas produced some of the most provocative and admired images in Western art,” said Max Hollein, The Met’s Marina Kellen French Director. “Anchored by the unparalleled holdings of their work in the collections of The Met and the Musée d’Orsay, in addition to incredible loans from more than 50 other institutions and individual collectors, this exhibition offers a riveting new perspective on the storied pair of artists.”

Highlights among the loans to the exhibition include Manet’s groundbreaking Olympia, which will travel to the United States for the first time in the work’s history, as well as Degas’s recently conserved Family Portrait (The Bellelli Family) from the Musée d’Orsay. Four drawings of Manet by Degas—two from the Musée d’Orsay and two from The Met—will be reunited with rare, related etchings. They will be displayed alongside Degas’s Monsieur and Madame Édouard Manet (Municipal Museum of Kitakyushu), a gift to the sitters that Manet later slashed, thus marking an initial point of rupture. Integral pairings of works by the two artists that showcase their treatment of similar subjects from modern life include Degas’s In a Café (The Absinthe Drinker) (Musée d’Orsay) and Manet’s Plum Brandy (National Gallery of Art, Washington, D.C.), as well as Manet’s The Races at Longchamp (Art Institute of Chicago) and Degas’s Racehorses before the Stands (Musée d’Orsay). The exhibition features many works formerly in Degas’s collection, including Manet’s The Execution of Maximilian (The National Gallery, London), which was methodically reassembled by Degas after it had been cut into pieces and dispersed following Manet’s death.

In the realm of supercars, where innovation is the lifeblood and aesthetics and design reign supreme, it is intriguing how unexpected sources can serve as wellsprings of inspiration. A recent Instagram post has shed light on a remarkable confluence between fine art and automotive design, unmistakably revealing that the Mercedes-Benz AMG GT Coupe Design Team has drawn inspiration from the works of Shalimar Sharbatly, a trailblazer in the realm of “Moving Art.” This revelation has ignited a fervor of excitement among enthusiasts and connoisseurs alike.

Renowned artist Shalimar Sharbatly, celebrated globally for her prowess as a painter, is the visionary behind the “Moving Art” concept. Through this initiative, Shalimar endeavors to emancipate art from the confines of exclusive galleries, seamlessly weaving it into the fabric of our everyday lives. Her objective is to elevate the general aesthetic sensibilities of individuals, imbuing even the most mundane tools of daily existence with visual elegance and grace. Shalimar attests that the success of “Moving Art” is a testament to her artistic vision, expressing her joy at witnessing her art attain international acclaim. She is acclaimed for her exceptional ability to metamorphose common objects, such as automobiles, into conceptual masterpieces that resonate with millions across the globe.

At the core of Shalimar Sharbatly’s oeuvre lies her profound relationship with color. Her color palette is not merely a tool; it serves as a language to convey emotions, craft spatial dimensions, manipulate light and shadow, and invoke profound symbolic connotations.

Shalimar’s artistic journey has left an indelible mark on various corners of the world. Her hand-painted design gracing the Porsche 911 found its place of honor in the prestigious Carrousel du Louvre Museum in Paris, catapulting her to international stardom. Among her pioneering achievements is the distinction of being the first woman commissioned by the government of Saudi Arabia to create street art and murals, with her distinctive style adorning the walls of Jeddah, infusing the cityscape with artistic vibrancy. Recently, her latest artwork was prominently showcased in Jeddah as part of the 90th National Day celebrations of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.

Shalimar firmly believes that “beauty does not reside in a fixed abode. There exist no predefined schools that dictate an artist’s path or rigid templates that demarcate their trajectory. Beauty manifests in moments of creative overflow, wherein it asserts its capacity to infiltrate our worlds.” The Saudi artist Shalimar Sharbatly captures the essence of everything around her, wielding her brush to imprint the joyous human experience on both stationary and mobile canvases, as though she is completing a breathtaking tableau in the world, defying any negativity that may arise in unforeseen circumstances.

It is indisputable that Shalimar’s captivating artwork has left an indelible mark on the Mercedes-Benz design team. The viral Instagram video serves as compelling evidence, juxtaposing Shalimar’s hand-painted Porsche 911 with the new AMG GT Coupe, revealing striking resemblances in both color and design.

As we delve deeper into the intricacies, it becomes evident that Shalimar’s influence, emanating from her “Moving Art” ethos, extends beyond the realm of mere inspiration. The unveiling of the new Mercedes AMG GT Coupe, as previewed in the Instagram video, appears to have been profoundly shaped by Shalimar’s unique artistic approach. The uncanny parallels between her artistic creations and the car’s design are nothing short of remarkable.

In response to this revelation, Shalimar Sharbatly remarked, “As an Arab artist, I should indeed feel elated that my work has inspired an international powerhouse like Mercedes. However, the audaciousness displayed by Mercedes’ designers raises concerns regarding intellectual property rights, as reported in the media… The resemblance is so striking that it borders on being nearly identical.”

She concluded her statement by adding, “We have formally approached Mercedes, seeking both material and moral compensation for this design, which was executed without my consent. We are now eagerly awaiting the company’s response.”

For an in-depth exploration of Shalimar Sharbatly’s groundbreaking artistry, please visit: www.shalemarsharbatly.art

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