In an excerpt from his new book “Paris in Ruins,” critic Sebastian Smee breaks down the charged, extravagantly expressive portraits between the painters Berthe Morisot and Édouard Manet.

Hours The Portrait Gallery and the Smithsonian American Art Museum are both open from 11:30 a.m. to 7 p.m. and admission to both is always free.

Ben Enwonwu has been featured in articles for The Art Newspaper, Art in America and FAD Magazine. The most recent article is Ben Enwonwu Headlines Ewbank’s Auction with Rare Portraits written for Art ...