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, the 71-¼” X 41 ¾”
canvas painting features a drunken man leaning against a wall in a dark corner.
As one of the first controversial paintings Manet created, it served as a
lead-in into his career that was shunned by the public eye. The painting made no
effort to sentimentalize the subject of drinking.
The painting is enjoyable because of its simplicity and soft contrast. Manet
blends the objects well to create a dark tone that also shades light in the
right places. This work now stands in the NY Carlsberg Glypotetek in Copenhagen.
Another painting that drew attention to Manet’s skill is Argenteuil. In this
bright depiction of a day at the harbor, one might enjoy Manet’s bold bright
contrast of colors.
In his painting, which was created in 1874, Manet uses bold, sharp strokes to
make the central objects project more. This piece, noticeably smaller then the
previous one, being 57 7/8” X 44 ½”, uses a magnificent blend of colors in oil
on canvas. His use of new and different techniques and colors that stand out
make this picture notable to the development of the artistic style of the
impressionist period.
