When talking about the Impressionism period, most people would immediately think of Van Gogh, Monet or Renoir. While I love these artists dearly, personally I feel more connected to Édouard Manet (1832 – 1883) and his artworks. While he could be considered one of the earliest adopter of the impressionist style and was very influential to other artists of his time, he is usually one of the lesser mentioned painter name for this era, probably due to his uninterest in seeing himself as a representative of the style.
However, in some ways, I feel like he is the true silent hero of the Impressionism period. Though facing numerous criticisms from the academia, instead of breaking away like other artists, he did not stop experimenting and kept trying to submit his works to the Salon. He outwardly challenged the academic doctrine and chose his battlefield to be where the conventions of middle-class art were traditionally celebrated. Manet did not care about establishing any kind of movement, all he wanted was to show the public how “reality” can be achieved through a new perspective and be the catalyst for change. The novelty in his approach towards changing the public perception, I think, is quite underrated by today’s audience.
Đọc tiếp “[Thoughts] Édouard Manet – the silent hero of the Impressionism”
A Dream Wanderer 