Edouard Manet – A Bar at the Folies-Bergère (1882) The lost, sad, daydreaming face of the barmaid in Manet’s painting of Paris nightlife is the mask of a modern woman. She’s alienated from her surroundings and trying to ignore the sleazy clientele – who is that sinister man in the mirror? – as she endures her shift. Work is anonymous exploitation, gender relations are dangerous and the city a heartless glittering nightclub in Manet’s vision. You can see it all in that face. Leonardo da Vinci – Mona Lisa (c 1503-06) Legend and fantasy surround the most famous face in art. It was … Continue reading The Top 10 Unforgettable Faces