Young Boy Peeling a Pear

The boy peeling the pear is Léon Koëlla Leenhoff, the son of Manet's wife Suzanne Leenhoff. But this is not just a straight-forward portrait. The artist was probably inspired by everyday scenes in older paintings – kitchen interiors, still-lifes or portrayals of various household chores. These were popular subjects in France in the 19th century. Anders Zorn acquired the painting on a visit to Paris, and donated it to the Nationalmuseum in 1896. Thus, the museum obtained its very first work by an artist in the Impressionist circle.