The Artist by Guy de Maupassant
A young woman's life unravels after she becomes infatuated with a painter who has just arrived in town. His presence awakens her desires and she begins to abandon her conventional life for one of passion and art, but ultimately descends into madness and despair.
By Guy de Maupassant · First published 1884 · Genre: Psychological Fiction, Drama, Tragedy · 2,162 words
First lines
"Bah! Monsieur," the old mountebank said to me; "it is a matter of exercise and habit, that is all! Of course, one requires to be a little gifted that way and not to be butter-fingered, but what is chiefly necessary is patience and daily practice for long, long years."
What this Textopian page supports
The Artist is listed on Textopian as a short story by Guy de Maupassant, dated 1884 CE.
This source record anchors work identity, reading entry points, and catalog context for checking claims about the work.
- Work type: Short story
- Author: Guy de Maupassant
- Date: 1884 CE
- Language: English
- Genres: Psychological Fiction, Drama, Tragedy, Realism, Short Story
- Length: 2,162 words
- Structure: 1 section, 38 paragraphs
- Reading fit: Easy (6th Grade)
Good citation fit
- Work identity for The Artist by Guy de Maupassant
- Canonical title URL and first readable passage URL
- Genre and topic classification from the Textopian catalog
- Readability and classroom-planning context
- Passage-specific claims should cite the exact /read/ URL for the relevant chapter or paragraph
Discussion starters
- What should a reader notice first when entering The Artist?
- How does this short story by Guy de Maupassant fit its genre, period, or classroom use?
- Where does Psychological Fiction first become important in the reading?
Similar titles
- Suicides by Guy De Maupassant
- A Coward by Guy De Maupassant
- The False Gems by Guy De Maupassant
- An Artifice by Guy De Maupassant
- A Humble Drama by Guy De Maupassant
- Denis by Guy De Maupassant
Genres
- Psychological Fiction — The story delves into the complex psychological state of the protagonist, exploring themes of obsession, revenge, and the limits of human control.
- Drama — The narrative is driven by intense emotional conflicts and dramatic tension between the characters, particularly the protagonist and his wife.
- Tragedy — The story presents a tragic situation where the protagonist is trapped by his own skill, unable to achieve his desired revenge, leading to a sense of inevitable doom.
- Realism — The narrative style and character development are grounded in realistic depictions of human emotions and societal perceptions.
Tags
Psychological Fiction · Realism · French Literature · Short Story Collection · Existential Crisis · Artistic Identity · Social Commentary · Human Nature · Philosophical Themes · Literary Realism · 19th Century Literature · Symbolism