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Edouard Manet was a modernist painter whose works were decisive for the transition from Realism to Impressionism. Manet was born into an upper class family with a high political influence. His father was Chief of Staff of the Ministry of Justice and gave his son an appropriate education. But Manet had little love for school and was a rather underachieving student. His uncle awakened his interest in art and often visited the Louvre with him. He advised him to attend a special art course, where he became friends with Antonin Proust. Manet's parents were against his desire to become an artist and encouraged him to study law. But that again did not correspond to Manet's ideas. On his father's advice, he went on a training ship to Rio de Janeiro as an apprentice. But since he failed the entrance examination for the naval college twice, his parents finally gave in and allowed him to study art. At the age of 18 Manet became an apprentice of the classical painter Thomas Couture and stayed there for six years. During this period he also undertook several study trips to Germany, Italy and the Netherlands. On these trips he met the artists Frans Hals, Diego Velázquez and Francisco José de Goya, who had a decisive influence on him.
After completing his training, Manet opened his own studio, where he devoted himself to motifs in the style of realism by Gustave Courbet. His work Olympia, which was exhibited in the Paris Salon, caused a particular stir. The work triggered a scandal and caused a fierce outrage among visitors and art critics. Young, alternative artists such as Courbet, Monet, Cézanne or Gauguin took the work under their wing and paid special tribute to it. Manet therefore exhibited some of his paintings, which had been rejected by the Paris Salon, in the alternative Salon de Refusés. However, in contrast to the core group of Impressionist artists, Manet was convinced that they should not completely break away from the traditional Salon. For this reason, he continued to regularly exhibit his works at the Paris Salon. Manet was closely associated with the Impressionists, influenced many artists and took up many elements in exchange with them himself, but he never wanted to feel he belonged to this group.
Manet married the two years older Suzanne Leenhoff after 10 years of relationship and a common son. Manet's father had hired the native Dutchwoman at the time to give piano lessons to the two sons. In his works he was modelled on his wife, son and later sister-in-law, the impressionist painter Berthe Morisot, as well as other artist colleagues and great personalities of his time who were among his friends. Manet was also inspired by observing people in everyday situations in busy places. In the last years of his life, Manet frequently painted still lifes. He died at the age of 51 from the complications of his syphilis and rheumatic illness.
Edouard Manet was a modernist painter whose works were decisive for the transition from Realism to Impressionism. Manet was born into an upper class family with a high political influence. His father was Chief of Staff of the Ministry of Justice and gave his son an appropriate education. But Manet had little love for school and was a rather underachieving student. His uncle awakened his interest in art and often visited the Louvre with him. He advised him to attend a special art course, where he became friends with Antonin Proust. Manet's parents were against his desire to become an artist and encouraged him to study law. But that again did not correspond to Manet's ideas. On his father's advice, he went on a training ship to Rio de Janeiro as an apprentice. But since he failed the entrance examination for the naval college twice, his parents finally gave in and allowed him to study art. At the age of 18 Manet became an apprentice of the classical painter Thomas Couture and stayed there for six years. During this period he also undertook several study trips to Germany, Italy and the Netherlands. On these trips he met the artists Frans Hals, Diego Velázquez and Francisco José de Goya, who had a decisive influence on him.
After completing his training, Manet opened his own studio, where he devoted himself to motifs in the style of realism by Gustave Courbet. His work Olympia, which was exhibited in the Paris Salon, caused a particular stir. The work triggered a scandal and caused a fierce outrage among visitors and art critics. Young, alternative artists such as Courbet, Monet, Cézanne or Gauguin took the work under their wing and paid special tribute to it. Manet therefore exhibited some of his paintings, which had been rejected by the Paris Salon, in the alternative Salon de Refusés. However, in contrast to the core group of Impressionist artists, Manet was convinced that they should not completely break away from the traditional Salon. For this reason, he continued to regularly exhibit his works at the Paris Salon. Manet was closely associated with the Impressionists, influenced many artists and took up many elements in exchange with them himself, but he never wanted to feel he belonged to this group.
Manet married the two years older Suzanne Leenhoff after 10 years of relationship and a common son. Manet's father had hired the native Dutchwoman at the time to give piano lessons to the two sons. In his works he was modelled on his wife, son and later sister-in-law, the impressionist painter Berthe Morisot, as well as other artist colleagues and great personalities of his time who were among his friends. Manet was also inspired by observing people in everyday situations in busy places. In the last years of his life, Manet frequently painted still lifes. He died at the age of 51 from the complications of his syphilis and rheumatic illness.