Edouard Manet Biography
Setting oneself apart from the norm requires determination and
sense of focus - two distinct qualities that Edouard Manet possessed. It was
his unwavering faith in his abilities and persistence to perfect his craft that
made him one of the most renowned artists throughout history.
Manet's Personal Life
Edouard Manet was born in Paris, to an upper-class family with
a remarkable background. As a young boy, he lived a luxurious life with his
parents and two siblings. He was an art enthusiast even at a young age.
However, he experienced lack of support from his father who hoped he would
pursue a career as a lawyer or naval officer. Although he failed the
examinations in the Naval Academy, he was forced to enter the Merchant Marine
as a student pilot.
Eventually, he returned to his deep passion, which was to
become an artist. He presented his father with an impressive portfolio of his
paintings completed during his voyages as a pilot. That helped him earn his
father's faith in his artistic skills, and he was allowed to pursue art studies
led by the academic artist, Thomas Couture.
Aside from his intensive education, Manet improved his skills
by travelling and discovering art styles of famous painters including
Caravaggio, Francisco Goya, Peter Paul Rubens, and Diego Velazquez. He was
greatly impressed and inspired by the extraordinary techniques of these artists
who proved to be masters in their craft.
Manet's Art Style
During the 1850s when Manet began his art studies, he realized
that some subjects were hardly presented in various paintings at that time. For
instance, there was a rarity of artworks that depicted a typical city life in
Paris. Thus, he explored more on these themes and created fine pieces that have
impressed younger artists in that period.
Having one's paintings exhibited at the Salons was one quick
way to gain success as an artist, and this served as Manet's ultimate goal as
he worked hard on his craft. Unfortunately, the Salon juries leaned more
towards mythological and biblical themes, which were not quite Manet's
strongest points. Yet, he took a chance to submit his works to the Salon, and
he attained success in a few of them. His subjects were usually of contemporary
urban themes, and these caught the attention of the juries, as well as the
Salon-goers.
Manet's style reflected a free manner of painting where he
attempted to create form by using subtle areas of color instead of the blending
of tones in a gradual manner. He was influenced by Diego Velazquez' style, but
Manet's artworks had a more contemporary feel in them while implementing his
influences' motifs.
One of Manet's popular art techniques was the alla prima
painting. This style features the laying down of colors that resembles the ones
he envision in his thoughts. This unique approach was well-accepted by
Impressionists, as it worked perfectly in capturing atmosphere and light as one
paint in the outdoors.
Another interesting art style of Manet was the loose handling
of the paintbrush to produce a sense of flatness while adding some volume to
certain areas. Back then, this painting style seemed as a popular technique,
yet contemporary artists consider the flat appeal as a characteristic of modern
art.
It is also worth noting that Manet was more interested in
using different colors that can represent a single tone while maintaining just
one reality. Instead of using color scales, he relied more on the use of strong
and contrasting tones, which transformed his works into somewhat
one-dimensional. His works may also be simple, but they are extremely difficult
to make because he has sworn against the application of layering paints.
Influence on Art History
Most artists believe that Manet introduced and popularized
Impressionism and avant-garde paining. In fact, during evenings he frequently
met up with fellow artists, like Claude Monet who worked together to initiate
an impressionist art exhibition. He was famous for his application of bold
colors that gained the respect of other impressionists. However, Manet tried
his best to set himself apart from them and had his own exhibitions.
Manet had numerous followers, and his influence and
inspiration helped future impressionists refine their style. Among the artists
who were deeply influenced by Manet included Eva Gonzales, Gauguin and Berthe
Morisot. Together with Manet, they shared similar styles that have reinvented
that ear's concept of art.
Manet's roughly painted style and photographic lighting in
these works was seen as specifically modern, and as a challenge to the
Renaissance works Manet copied or used as source material. His work is
considered 'early modern', partially because of the black outlining of figures,
which draws attention to the surface of the picture plane and the material
quality of paint.
He became friends with the Impressionists Edgar Degas, Claude
Monet, Pierre-Auguste Renoir, Alfred Sisley, Paul Cézanne and Pissarro through
another painter, Berthe Morisot, who was a member of the group and drew Manet
into their activities
Famous Artworks of Manet
Luncheon on the Grass
This painting, which the artist exhibited in 1863, depicted an
image of two men dressed as upper-class men, who were joined by a nude woman
sitting comfortably with these gentlemen. In this artwork, the two men appeared
to be deeply immersed in their conversation, with the woman simply sitting and
minding her own self. A few distances from these characters, another woman
barely dressed appears to be bathing in a nearby stream. As one looks deeply
into the painting, it sends off a message that the scene is taking place in a
studio because of the background's lack of depth. The use of broad light hardly
created any shadows, which made it appear unnatural.
Olympia
Another controversial painting by Manet is Olympia, which is a
name Parisians used when referring to prostitutes. Bearing a contemporary
theme, the painting featured a nude woman reclining and staring at the viewer
in quite a mysterious fashion. It also presented a maid offering a bouquet of
vibrant flowers to the reclining courtesan, which is presumed to be a client's
gift in exchange for the services provided by the woman. There were also
several other symbols used in the painting that all pointed to the fact that the
woman was indeed a prostitute. These objects include the pearl earrings and
silky shawl, bracelet, the orchid pinned loosely in her hair, and the black cat
gazing at the woman. This was the kind of subject that was hardly a popular
choice among artists during that era.
A Bar at the Folies-Bergere
Manet expressed his desire to explore realism with this
painting, which presented a more contemporary atmosphere. Although the
painting's numerous features bewildered critics, it remained to be the common
subject of scholarly publications during that era up to the present. When taken
into deeper analysis, the painting showed images of social class. However, the
barmaid is depicted as a prostitute, which the infamous Folies-Bergere was
known for. Thus, the woman appeared both as a commodity and a salesperson in
this painting.
The Fifer
During one of Manet's trips in the mid 1860s, he was immensely
inspired by the paintings of Diego Velasquez. In fact, The Fifer proved his
inspiration from the Spanish painting with its contemporary subject and his use
of solid areas of rich color specifically in the darker parts of the painting.
The painting, though, did not gain much attention from the Salon juries as it
was rejected when he submitted this artwork in 1866.
Edouard Manet might have come across numerous rejections and
criticisms during his time, yet all of these did not stop him from pursuing his
passion to produce genuine, authentic, and original works. He also inspired
several artists in that era, who believed that Manet had a true gift of
ingenuity and superior artistry despite what critics said about his works.
In the 1920s many critics were considering Manet's work to be
'pure painting', fitting in with the Realist ideology. However in 1954 the
Swede art critic Nils Gosta Sandblad began to look at Manet's work as highly
modern and having been indicative of future art trends (beyond Impressionism).
This idea has carried on until modern times and today Manet is considered by
many to have been an artist genius.
Conservatory
Old music
Bertbe Morizot
Suicide
Mosmier street
Spring Jeanne 18 years old
With affection,
Ruben
Ruben
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