File talk:Edouard Manet 004.jpg

I have had this picture on my dining room wall for 30 years and totally disagree with expert comment about the perspective and arrangement of the people in this image. First, the back of the barmaid could not be seen from in front of the bar except in a mirror, but the wall mirror does nor reach down far enough to do this. Secondly the barmaid's waist from the front is much narrower than that seen from the back. Are there 2 barmaids?

And then there is Manet - if it is he - who also could not be seen in the mirror as it does not reach low enough.

It's a lovely picture but in now way "realistic".

Why do those commentators pretend otherwise?

Molerunner