Edouard Manet

Edouard Manet was an influential painter who left his own unique mark on the art world. As a child, his father was a judge, who wanted him to pursue a career in law, but his uncle, recognizing little Edouard’s talents, encouraged his interest in art. It wasn’t until Manet failed two entrance exams into the French Navy that his father relented to his son’s wishes and allowed him to start art lessons under the academic painter Thomas Couture. This master taught him to copy the works of the great masters in the Louvre and was also influenced by Frans Hals and Diego Velazquez. 

Manet was a defining figure in the transition from Realism to Impressionism in the 19th century. Like many of his fellow Impressionists, his paintings often centered on leisurely scenes of Parisian life, including social gatherings and street scenes.