Édouard Manet was a French modernist painter. He was one of the first 19th-century artists to paint modern life, and a pivotal figure in the transition from Realism to Impressionism.
Born into an upper-class household with strong political connections, Manet rejected the future originally envisioned for him, and became engrossed in the world of painting.
His early masterworks, The Luncheon on the Grass (Le déjeuner sur l'herbe) and Olympia, both 1863, caused great controversy and served as rallying points for the young painters who would create Impressionism. Today, these are considered watershed paintings that mark the start of modern art. The last 20 years of Manet's life saw him form bonds with other great artists of the time, and develop his own style that would be heralded as innovative and serve as a major influence for future painters.
1. The Smoker (Le fumeur)
Medium: etching and drypoint
2.The Races (Les courses)
Medium: litograph
Dated: 1865
3. The Reader (Le liseur)
Medium: etching
Dated: 1861
4. The Tragic Actor (L'acteur tragique)
Medium: etching
Dated: 1866
5. The Cats (Les chats)
Medium: etching
Dated: 1869
6. Civil War (Guerre civile)
Medium: litograph
Dated: 1871
7. Madame Michel-Lévy
Medium: pastel on canvas
Dated: 1882
8. Dead Toreador (Torero mort)
Medium: etching and aquatint
Dated: 1868
9. Portrait of a Lady
Medium: oil on wood
Dated: 1879
10. A Boy Holding His Dog
Medium: facsimile with graphite and pen and ink
Dated: after 1922
11. Man Wearing a Cloak
Medium: charcol on wove paper
Dated: 1852/1858
12. Philip IV (Philippe IV)
Medium: etching
Dated: 1862
13. At the Prado (Au Prado)
Medium: etching and aquatint
Dated: 1865/1868
14. Polichinelle
Medium: 7-color lithograph on bright white wove paper (second edition)
Dated: 1874
15. Two Apples
Medium: watercolor over graphite on wove paper
Dated: 1880
In his mid-forties Manet's health deteriorated, and he developed severe pain and partial paralysis in his legs. In 1879 he began receiving hydrotherapy treatments at a spa near Meudon intended to improve what he believed was a circulatory problem, but in reality he was suffering from locomotor ataxia, a known side-effect of syphilis.
In his last years Manet painted many small-scale still lifes of fruits and vegetables, such as Bunch of Asparagus and The Lemon (both 1880).He completed his last major work, A Bar at the Folies-Bergère (Un Bar aux Folies-Bergère), in 1882 and it hung in the Salon that year. Afterwards he limited himself to small formats. His last paintings were of flowers in glass vases.
In April 1883, his left foot was amputated because of gangrene, due to complications from syphilis and rheumatism. He died eleven days later on 30 April in Paris. He is buried in the Passy Cemetery in the city.
Here are some of his famous quotes:
There are no lines in nature, only areas of colour, one against another.
It is not enough to know your craft - you have to have feeling. Science is all very well, but for us imagination is worth far more.
I would kiss you, had I the courage.
The country only has charms for those not obliged to stay there.
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I really like these series!
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