Edouard Manet

23. January 1832- 30. April 1883)

He was born in Paris. His father was a famous judicial officer. His father, Auguste Manet, wanted him to pursue a career in law. At the age of sixteen Manet wanted to attend the navy, to serve his father’s will. However he failed the examination twice. In 1850 he started his education as painter under Thomas Couture artist’s workshop, a French painter and founder of the school of ‘Impressionists’, with whom Manet stayed six years. In 1856 Manet opened his own workshop. His major early work was Le Déjeuner sur l’herbe from 1863. The painting uses realistic techniques .This painting was scandalous at that time because it had no sense of beauty which was of importance. Another scandalous painting is Olympia from 1865. However the paintings found recognition by some literati, e.g. Baudelaire or Zola and a small group of painters whom we call impressionists today. Although Manet himself does not want to count to the impressionists he is counted as one in our time.

Source:

Eddy J. Arthur: “ Brush and Pencil”. Edouard Manet, Painter.( Vol. 1. No.5. Feb.,1898): 137-140.

Hohenzollern von, Prinz Johann Georg, Schuster, Peter- Klaus: Manet bis Van Gogh. Hugo von Tschudi und der Kampf um die Moderne, München 1997.