A Letter to Eugène Maus, Decorated with Two Apples - Édouard Manet Memo.

The Life of Manet: Challenging Tradition

Born into a wealthy bourgeois family in Paris, Manet initially aspired to become a naval officer, but after failing the exam twice, decided to become a painter. While learning the basics under his teacher Thomas Couture, he also copied the works of past masters at the Louvre in search of his own unique style. His challenging works were rejected and criticized at the official Salon, but he established himself as a pioneer of modern painting.

• January 23, 1832: Born in Paris, France.
• 1850-1856: He studied at the art school of the academic painter Thomas Couture, but found himself rebellious towards his teaching methods.
• 1863: He exhibited " The Luncheon on the Grass " at the Salon des Refusals, which brought together works rejected by the Salon. This caused great controversy and led to a scandal.
• 1865: Olympia is accepted for the Salon, but its subject matter and bold expression once again spark great controversy.
• 1870s: He became close friends with future Impressionist painters such as Claude Monet and Edgar Degas , but he did not participate in the first Impressionist exhibition in 1874, choosing instead to continue exhibiting at the Salon.
• April 30, 1883: Died in Paris after a long illness (aged 51).

Manet's major works

Manet created many masterpieces, focusing on contemporary subjects such as modern city life and portraits.

• Luncheon on the Grass (1863) - Musée d'Orsay, Paris
• Olympia (1863) - Musée d'Orsay, Paris
• A Bar at the Folies-Bergère (1882) - Courtauld Gallery, London
• The Balcony (1868-1869) - Musée d'Orsay, Paris
• The Fifer (1866) - Musée d'Orsay, Paris

Manet's Style: A New Perspective on Depicting the Modern City

Manet's style is characterized by a deliberate deviation from traditional painting techniques. By simplifying three-dimensional expression through perspective and shading and using flat color planes , he emphasized the decorativeness and flatness of the picture plane. Furthermore, his clear contours and brushstrokes that boldly capture the texture of his subjects also give his works a modern feel. In particular, his striking use of black in the expression of shading is an important element that demonstrates Manet's individuality.

In terms of subject matter, rather than traditional genres such as historical or mythological paintings, he actively depicted modern Parisian urban life and the people living there, such as in cafes, parks, and racetracks. This was an attempt to express contemporary reality from his own unique perspective while inheriting the spirit of realism , which sought to capture it. At the same time, he also sought to combine tradition and innovation by quoting the compositions of past masters such as Titian and Velázquez and replacing them with modern scenes.

Controversial masterpieces: "Luncheon on the Grass" and "Olympia"

It was " Luncheon on the Grass " and " Olympia " that made Manet famous and also became the subject of intense controversy.

"Luncheon on the Grass" was criticized on moral grounds for its unusual combination of two men in formal attire relaxing in the woods with a nude woman (the other woman is bathing). It was also criticized for its lack of the traditional, meticulous finish, leaving only brushstrokes visible. This work challenged the norms of academicism in both subject matter and technique.

"Olympia" depicts a courtesan lying in bed, gazing provocatively at the viewer. While following the composition of Venus statues by past masters (particularly Titian's "Venus of Urbino"), the painting caused a scandal because it depicted a flesh-and-blood modern woman rather than a mythical goddess, and its direct gaze exposed the hypocrisy of bourgeois society at the time. These works are considered monumental, marking the beginning of the "modern" era in painting.

Influence on Impressionism and later recognition

Although Manet did not consider himself a member of the Impressionist movement, his innovative art had a decisive influence on young artists such as Claude Monet , Pierre-Auguste Renoir , Edgar Degas , and Berthe Morisot . They looked up to Manet as their mentor and learned much from his innovative methods of expression and interest in modern life, which led to the development of the Impressionist art movement. Manet continued to interact with them and became their spiritual pillar.

Today, Édouard Manet has established an unshakable position in the history of Western art as the father of modern painting , who broke with tradition and brought about a visual revolution in painting. His works, which served as an important bridge from Realism to Impressionism and later modern art, are exhibited in major collections in museums around the world and continue to fascinate many people.

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