Fifer

The Fifer represents the beginning of a small artistic revolution, breaking the norms of paintings of the time, by portraying an anonymous flautist of the Spanish army, instead of someone important and instantly recognizable, by omitting any background and painting the figure over a dull matte surface that refuses to reveal who the character is, his stature, importance or even location, and also by using unconventional brush strokes, bold matte surfaces of black and red that give no sense of depth, and detailed contours that brilliantly emphasize the character's gaze.

Manet was rejected from exhibitions, ridiculed by contemporaries and had to fund his exhibitions to show this now classic and timeless art piece.