Written by: Alex Broening
Like many influential and revolutionary artists, Manet refused to comply with standards set by others even at a young age. In January of 1832, Manet was born into a wealthy family, his father being a well-recognized judge, and his mother being of royal descent. His father’s expectation was for Manet to enter the Navy. Manet eventually capitulated and took the Navy exam but failed. Returning to his artistic aspirations, and now supported by his father, Manet joined Thomas Couture in his studio in Paris. Even at such an early age, Manet was something of a revolutionary, deeming the Ecole des Beaux-Arts to be teaching outdated modes of art. Indeed, Manet was not entirely incorrect, as Couture encouraged his mentees to explore their own style and direction of art regardless of the style of the day. After studying for six years, Manet set up his own studio in Paris, and proceeded to travel around Europe, to the Netherlands, Germany, and Austria. In his travels, he met Edgar Degas, who would remain a friend and inspiration for the rest of Manet’s life. Manet’s art began to evolve, partly as a result of his travels, and soon began to reflect modern life rather than history. Manet and other artists received much criticism, both from the public, and from the harsh critics. Manet was deeply hurt by this criticism of his art, especially of "Le Déjeuner sur l'Herbe", which, shockingly for the time, depicted a prostitute in the nude. Also upsetting to Manet was his rejection from the Salon – what was considered the pinnacle of artistic achievement in Europe. Despite his revolutionary nature, Manet still desired recognition for his work, and his rejection was upsetting to him. Manet continued to produce controversial works, including Olympia in 1863, which was not well received by the Parisian public. His scandals continued into his personal life in addition to his art. Manet married Suzanne Leenhoff in 1863, however, the two had been involved for more than 10 years, and had had an illegitimate child 9 years prior to their marriage. While some speculation surrounded the affair, it had little effect on his life. Manet began meeting with other artists of the time, including Cézanne, Degas, Renoir, Sisley, and Pissarro. Together they formed a group of the first modern artists, sharing ideas and inspiration. The group had massive impact on the development of art at that period of time. Avant-garde movements such as Manet’s version of realism, and the development of impressionism by Monet and Renoir centered in, and found their base of support in this group of friends, firmly cementing their place in history. After further rejections from the Salon and other exhibitions, Manet set up a tent to exhibit his work, but received further criticism and negative publicity. Manet’s work and style continued to evolve, reflecting elements of the emerging impressionist movement. In the middle of his work, Manet also joined the National Guard during the Franco-Prussian War in 1870. Even as his health declined, Manet continued to work, painting the daily lives of Parisians. His paintings of café concerts – a symbol of the culture and society of the Paris of the time – where especially popular, including one of his most famous paintings, "A Bar at the Folies-Bergere", finished in 1881. Manet continued to paint a variety of subjects, including portraits, flowers, landscapes, and still-lifes until his death in 1883. Toward the end of his life, Manet’s work grew to be more widely appreciated, finally earning a second place at the Salon, and the “Légion d'honneur,” a special award granted by the French Government. Manet’s work essentially spawned and fed the creation of a whole new type of art. Bold and inspired, Manet truly deserves to be called the father of Modernism.
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ContributorsJACQUELINE YU is the co-founder of the MLWGS art history online magazine. She is an incredible artist and devotes much of her time to both participating in, experiencing, and appreciating art. Archives
April 2019
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