Edouard Manet To artists, Edouard Manet was seen as a revolutionary who revealed his inner self to radically change the style of painting in the 1900’s. Born on January 23, 1832, Manet was forced into studying law by his father, who was a high government official. As the eldest of 3 sons, the famous artist was expected to take up the tradition of work in the field of justice, which had been in the family for generations. However, Manet had a burning desire in his heart as a child, which told him law was not where he should be. When Manet was sixteen, his uncle, a passionate lover of art, noticed his nephew’s similar interest and got Manet into an art school in Paris called College Rollin. Unfortunately, Manet’s father was strongly against this idea because he wished Manet to continue studying law. After much feuding, the father and son came to a compromise that Manet would go into the Navy. Yet after only a year at sea Manet was completely miserable and reported back home to continue his education in art despite his father’s wishes. At the age of 18 he entered instruction under Thomas Couture. Manet continued under Couture’s instruction but soon became bored with the conventionalism of his teachings and
sought something more exciting. That led to travels to Italy where he began creating his masterpieces that changed the history of art. As the style of art began to radically change Manet became the founding father of the impressionistic era. He began taking everyday objects and pulling out of those objects new feelings and creations which provoke thought. With broad strokes Manet used a vivid summary technique. Manet adopted bold brush strokes, and emphasized certain characteristics considered unorthodox realism by the church. Pre-Manet paintings had flat and static qualities. He created a new type of painting that made people think, and made art reviewers and members of society angry and confused. 1 2 Manet painted what he saw as he saw it, not at all the common view. This concept forced onlookers to take new perspectives on things that had been so solid in their minds. Furthermore, Manet introduced astonishing brightness in his paintings and he used stark contrast. Fellow artists picked up on many of Manet’s styles and he in turn adopted the use of lighter colors and added more emphasis on the effects of light. Manet’s risk taking paintings created a new modern style for future artists to follow. Among the many Edouard Manet paintings are two rather interesting pieces. One of these is The Absinthe Drinker. Created in 1858-59
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