Edouard Manet

Edouard Manet was an innovative painter who lived in 19th century France. He played an important role in the transition from Realism to Impressionism, and has made his mark in art history as one of the founders of modern painting. Manet's works, which challenged traditional painting techniques and themes, caused a scandal in the art world of the time, but at the same time had a major influence on a younger generation of artists, leading to the subsequent rise of Impressionism .

Edouard Manet Biography

• Born on January 23, 1832 in Paris, France, into a wealthy family.
• In 1850, he entered the art school of Thomas Couture and began to study painting in earnest.
• In 1863, he exhibited "Luncheon on the Grass" at the Exhibition of the Refusals, causing a major scandal.
• 1865: Olympia causes controversy at the Salon
• In 1874, he did not participate in the first Impressionist exhibition and kept his distance
• Died in Paris on April 30, 1883 (aged 51)

Representative works

• Luncheon on the Grass (1863)
• Olympia (1863)
• A Bar at the Folies-Bergère (1882)
• The Balcony (1868-1869)

Edouard Manet's painting style

Édouard Manet's style of painting was innovative and not bound by the rules of traditional painting. His clear contours, flat color planes, and bold brushstrokes set him apart from the academic paintings of the time. Manet's innovativeness was also demonstrated by his choice of subjects, not historical or mythological, but scenes and people from contemporary life, and his attempt to depict reality as it is. At the same time, he also drew inspiration from the works of past masters and reflected them in his own work. While conscious of tradition, he pioneered a new style of painting that depicted the reality of his own time.

Commentary on representative works

"The Luncheon on the Grass" depicts a scene that was unthinkable at the time, with nude women and clothed men having a picnic. This work was heavily criticized for ignoring the traditional rules of painting. "Olympia" is a provocative work in which a nude prostitute stares straight at the viewer. This work also caused a scandal as it went against the social conventions of the time.

The influence of Edouard Manet and his later reputation

Edouard Manet had a great influence on Impressionist painters. Claude Monet , Pierre-Auguste Renoir , and Edgar Degas in particular respected Manet and learned a lot from him. Although Manet himself did not participate in the Impressionist exhibitions, he continued to interact with Impressionist painters and supported their activities. Today, Manet is highly regarded as one of the fathers of modern painting. Keywords such as realism , impressionism , modern painting , scandal , and salon are important elements in understanding Manet's art. His works are housed in museums around the world and continue to fascinate many people even today.