Edouard Manet

Date of Birth: January 23, 1832

Zodiac Sign: Aquarius

Date of Death: April 30, 1883

Biography

Édouard Manet was a pivotal French modernist painter born on January 23, 1832, in Paris, France. He is considered one of the most important artists in the transition from Realism to Impressionism, known for his innovative approach to modern subjects and his bold brushwork. Manet came from a well-to-do family and initially pursued a career in the navy, a path encouraged by his father. However, his passion for art led him to study under the academic painter Thomas Couture. Manet’s early works, such as “The Luncheon on the Grass” (1863) and “Olympia” (1865), were highly controversial and sparked public and critical debate. These pieces challenged traditional representations of the human figure and were seen as scandalous due to their frank portrayal of modern life and the nude female form. Despite the initial backlash, Manet’s work influenced a generation of younger artists, including the Impressionists, who admired his bold use of light and color. Throughout his career, Manet continued to innovate, experimenting with different styles and techniques. He was a regular participant in the Salon, the official art exhibition of the Académie des Beaux-Arts in Paris, although his submissions often stirred controversy. Manet’s later works, such as “A Bar at the Folies-Bergère” (1882), are celebrated for their sophisticated composition and insightful commentary on contemporary society. Manet’s health began to decline in the late 1870s, and he suffered from severe rheumatism and syphilis. He passed away on April 30, 1883, in Paris, leaving behind a legacy that would profoundly influence the direction of modern art.

5 Interesting Facts about Edouard Manet

1. Édouard Manet never exhibited with the Impressionists, although he was closely associated with them and influenced many of their techniques and themes.

2. “Olympia” was inspired by Titian’s “Venus of Urbino” and caused a scandal when it was first exhibited due to its depiction of a nude woman with a confrontational gaze.

3. Manet’s painting “The Luncheon on the Grass” was rejected by the Salon but displayed at the Salon des Refusés, an alternative exhibition for rejected works that gained significant attention.

4. Manet was a close friend of poet Charles Baudelaire and was influenced by Baudelaire’s ideas about modernity and the role of the artist in contemporary life.

5. Despite his fame, Manet only sold a few paintings during his lifetime and struggled financially for much of his career.

5 Most Interesting Quotes from Edouard Manet

1. “There are no lines in nature, only areas of color, one against another.”

2. “Insults are pouring down on me as thick as hail.”

3. “You would hardly believe how difficult it is to place a figure alone on a canvas and to concentrate all the interest on this single and universal figure and still keep it living and real.”

4. “I paint what I see, not what others like to see.”

5. “A painter can say all he wants to with fruit or flowers or even clouds.”

Highest Net Worth Achieved

Édouard Manet’s highest net worth is not precisely documented, but his financial struggles indicate that he did not achieve significant wealth during his lifetime. His works, however, have fetched millions at auctions posthumously.

Children

Édouard Manet did not have any legitimate children. However, he was rumored to have fathered a son, Léon-Édouard Koëlla Leenhoff, with Suzanne Leenhoff, whom he later married.