Contents
Édouard Manet
Painting Olympia and helping bring modern life into French painting.
Le Déjeuner sur l’herbe · Olympia
- Born
- 23 January 1832
- Birthplace
- Paris, France
- Died
- 30 April 1883
More people
Édouard Manet
Édouard Manet was a French painter who adapted the compositions of older masters to contemporary Paris. His blunt handling of paint and provocative subjects challenged expectations at the official Salon.
Early life
A Paris family
Grew up in a prosperous household; his family initially hoped for a conventional profession.
Training and travel
Studied with Thomas Couture and examined paintings in European museums.
Career
- 1850–1856
Studio training
Learned academic painting before establishing an independent studio.
- 1860s
Salon confrontations
Submitted pictures whose subjects and technique provoked intense criticism.
- 1870s
Modern Paris
Painted cafés, leisure and urban life while befriending younger Impressionists.
Selected work
Le Déjeuner sur l’herbe
A modern picnic reworks an older artistic composition.
Olympia
A contemporary nude confronts the viewer directly.
A Bar at the Folies-Bergère
A barmaid and a puzzling reflection anchor a scene of nightlife.
Beyond work
Family and models
Married pianist Suzanne Leenhoff; friends and family frequently appeared in his paintings.
Independent position
Supported younger painters but continued seeking recognition at the Salon rather than exhibiting with the Impressionist group.
Sources & photo credit
Life and career ↗Institutional or specialist reference ↗Photo: Nadar / Adam Cuerden. Public domain · Original image. Cropped and displayed in monochrome.
