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Edouard Manet (1832-1883)

Edouard Manet is born on 23 January in Paris 1832. In contrary to the situation of many famous artists, Manet's family stands behind him in his ambition to become a painter. Living in Paris, he visits the Louvre as a young man at many occasions to study the paintings. He is especially interested in the work of Titian and Velàzques.

Just as the fellow impressionists, Manet is also influenced by the currents of Paris. He meets Charles Baudelaire, Stéphane Mallarmé, and others. (Mallarmé turns out to become a friend and companion for life, and is to write articles to Manets favour.) In addition, he travels extensively throughout Europe. In 1861, his work is accepted by the influential Salon in Paris, and he receives good reviews.

In 1866 Manet travels to Spain and meets Emile Zola. He defends Zola in a public debate (not the Dreyfus affaire) and is rewarded the next year as Zola writes him a favourable article. In the 1870's Manet works with Monet, but does not exhibit with the impressionists at their first exhibition in 1874.

In 1880 he gives a solo exhibition at La Vie Moderne, a new gallery in Paris. The year after, he is rewarded the Légion d´Honneur, the medal of honour. Manet dies rather young on 30 April 1883 in Paris.

Manet's style is unique, and he is sometimes described as one of the first truly modern artists. He does for painting what his friends Baudelaire and Zola does for literature — introduces realism in the era of impressionism.

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