In The Fifer (1866), Édouard Manet presents a young boy from a Spanish imperial guard regiment with a striking, modernist simplicity. The figure is set against a monochromatic, indeterminate gray background that lacks a visible floor or horizon line, making the boy appear to float in a void. Manet’s use of bold, flat areas of color—most notably the vibrant red of the trousers and the deep black of the jacket—is outlined with sharp contours, a technique inspired by Japanese woodblock prints. By stripping away traditional perspective and elaborate detail, Manet focuses the viewer’s attention entirely on the youth's poised silhouette and the subtle texture of his uniform, challenging the academic conventions of the 19th century.