Edouard Manet (1832-1883)The Parisian artist Edouard Manet initially painted traditionally. His early work is heavily influenced by art from the past. Later, he developed his Impressionistic style, with light colours and a loose touch. His principal theme was modern city life. In 1863 Manet's 'Déjeuner sur l'herbe' was the target of criticism at the Salon des Refusés, a protest exhibition alongside the official Paris SalonParis SalonIn 17th-century Paris the tradition of an annual exhibition in May began - this was the 'Salon de Mai' or simply the 'Salon'. Works of art were selected by a strict jury which was also responsible for awarding prizes. For (young) artists exposure at the salon represented a significant recognition of their work. In general, the jury tended to be conservative in its judgment: only artists who met the traditional, academic norms were admitted. Innovative, modern art was often refused. In protest, in 1863 a 'Salon des Refusés' was organised which featured works that were later to become famous, such as the 'Déjeuner sur l'herbe' by Manet. In 1884 the 'Salon des Indépendants' was started, a salon without a jury and without prizes.. Manet's variation on a classic theme shocked both public and critics. Manet continued to submit paintings to the Salon, with varying success. The last time he exhibited a new work was in 1882. By then he was already ill and died shortly after. Along with paintings he left behind a number of etchingsEtchingAn etching is in fact a print of a design etched into a metal plate. This is obtained as follows. A smooth metal plate (usually copper) is coated with etching-ground, an acid-resistant mixture of wax, resin and asphalt. The design is scratched into this coating with a needle, exposing the metal beneath. The plate is then immersed in an acid bath, in which the mordant bites into the exposed metal, etching in the lines of the design. The finished plate is then coated with ink, which fills the lines. By pressing the plate onto a surface, the design is transferred. A single plate can be used for between 50 and 200 prints. The earliest etching in existence dates from 1513. and lithographsLithographyLithography is a flat-surface or planographic printing technique based on the principle that oil and water are mutually repellant. First the artist draws a design with an oily material onto a limestone plate or lithograph stone (lithos is Greek for stone). The plate is then treated in a special way: the crayon or ink with which the drawing has been made is washed away leaving the design as a vaguely visible grease stain on the stone. This is then wetted. Where it is oily, the water is repelled, the parts which have not been drawn on are now wet. Using a roller, ink is then applied to the stone, allowing the oily ink to adhere to the oily drawing while the rest of the stone, being wet, repels the ink. A print can now be made in a litho-press. With a sheet of paper on top, the inked stone is passed under a horizontal scraper or bar. Under the pressure of the press, the ink is transferred from the stone to the paper. Prints made with this process are known as lithographs. A colour lithograph involves different stones being used for each colour, passed through the press with the same sheet of paper in succession.. His work had a significant influence on modern European art. |
