Édouard Manet (French, Paris 1832–1883 Paris), Madame Édouard Manet (Suzanne Leenhoff, 1830–1906), ca. 1873. Oil on canvas, 39 1/2 x 30 7/8 in. (100.3 x 78.4 cm). Bequest of Miss Adelaide Milton de Groot (1876–1967), 1967; 67.187.81 © 2000–2016 The Metropolitan Museum of Art.

Of the six portraits that Manet painted of his wife, the Dutch pianist Suzanne Leenhoff, between their marriage in 1863 and his death 20 years later, three were left unfinished. Here, the sitter's dress and hat suggest that this one was painted around 1873. The work reveals a great deal about the artist's process, with the figure sketched in broadly (one scholar has used the word zebrée, or streaked, to describe the effect) while the face is more carefully worked. Manet was not content with it, however, and he scraped off and repainted the face at least twice before giving up.

This work is exhibited in the "Unfinished: Thoughts Left Invisible" exhibition, on view through September 4th, 2016. #MetBreuer