| Edouard Manet (1832-1883) |
| Edouard Manet is considered to be the founderof modernist paintings. Manet was born in Paris on January 23, 1832 and was the son of a government official. Since he was child, his father was trying to push him into studying law, but to avoid this he became a sailor. In this years as a sailor he visited the countries of Germany, Italy, and the Netherlands to study the paintings of the old masters. His own influences centered greatly on the Dutch painter Frans hals and the Spanish artist Diego Velazquez. When he started his own paint, he prefer to to focus on everyday subjects such as old beggars, street urchins and park scenes. He used bold direct lines contrary to the common used at the time. |
| Manet was denoted by his innovative creation and academic controversy. His works were always causing irritations on many of the academic circles of his time. Olympia (1863, Musee d' Orsay) was criticized for its nudity, protraying a character with a real expression on her face instead of the angelic look of classic nudes. Manet was not really touched by this public opinion. He saw Olympia as a piece representing the limits between was is vulgar and what is beautiful, concentrating his lines in what he perceived "I paint what I see." |
 |
| Manet's legacy lies on the great influence that he had in other painters of his time. He seemed to take on the role of mentor and gave inspiration to many younger painters, including Aguste Renoir, and Camille Pissarro between others. Manet left a treasure of 420 oil paintings along with numerous water colors and pastel studies. Edouard Manet died in Paris in 1883. |
 |
| Home |
| JB FH GO NP |
| JB FH GO NP |