Édouard Manet

Gare Saint-Lazare
c. 1763
National Gallery of Art, Washington D.C.
Photographed by Team C004570

"Every time I paint, I throw myself into the water to learn how to swim."
-Édouard Manet

The Manet Gallery

Born in Paris, France, on January 23, 1832, Édouard Manet became known as the "father of modern art." His paintings gave birth to Impressionism and his bold images scandalized Paris with its contemporary subject matter and appearance.

His artist training formally began in 1850, against his father's wishes. He studied under Thomas Couture for six years, changing his style numerous times to get displayed at "the Salon" at in Paris. His earlier paintings were rather traditional and well accepted, but he continued experiment with blurred images, flat color, and radical brushwork.

In the Salon show of 1865, the show accepted Manet's painting, Olympia. It was shocking to the public because it was a painting of a nude woman, but not in the traditional, classical look, but she was a prostitute. The crowd complained, and their dissent, in combination with Impressionist Berthe Morisot's suggestions, he painted with the Impressionists, and left Paris.

His later paintings were much less radical in subject matter, and received critic's praise. Around 1880, he fell ill, but continued to paint. During his illness, he won a second class award at the Salon show, and was listed for the Legion of Honor. He died shortly afterwards on April 30, 1883.