Man with Melon

This of course is a reproduction of Edouard Manet's early masterwork Man with Melon, which engendered great controversy in the late 19th century by mixing realism with impressionism, and introducing the "fat hanging over the sides of shorts" concept which was later rejected by the Salon des Refusés. Exhibiting a delicate blend of light and shadow, Manet's uniquely frank (and largely unpopular) depiction of a simpleton holding out a melon was immediately rejected. In stark contrast, Manet's later work, Woman with Melons, enjoyed instant critical success and appealed to a wider and much more enthusiastic audience.