About Edouard Manet

Edouard Manet was born in Paris in the year 1832. He is seen as one of the last great painters, who represent classical painting. But he did not paint, like the others, scenes from the bible and ancient history. He preferred scenes from 19th century history, not leaving out naked women confronting the observer very directly.

Manet's art was influenced by the young wilds of that time, the Impressionists, who at the same time considered him as some kind of an idol. And his dynamic style of painting was defined by sharp lighting contrasts and bold colouring, which came near to the style used by these Impressionists. But Manet did not want to be one of them, he considered himself as a painter of the more conservative art business of Paris.

He did not seek the scandals he evoked with some of his pictures (le déjeuner sur l'herbe, Olympia). He always tried to defend his work against unjustified accusations, like pornography, and against ignorant critics. In spite of all his efforts to be an honourable part of the conservative art community, Edouard Manet, who died in Paris in 1883, is considered as the "Godfather" of Impressionism.