Manet maintained independence from the Impressionist collective despite exhibiting with them, but shared their desire to capture contemporary life through an unfiltered lens.
Édouard Manet was the maverick painter who Bridged the gap between Realism and Impressionism in 19th century French avant-garde art. Though his style was uniquely his own, Manet was a key influence on later Impressionists like Monet and Renoir and post-Impressionist Cézanne. His provocative modern subjects like urban leisure activities, candid portraits, and still life arrangements were conveyed through a disciplined approach merging precise draftsmanship with loose, alla prima handling of paint. Works like Luncheon on the Grass and Olympia caused great controversy for their unapologetic frankness and rejection of academic ideals. Manet maintained independence from the Impressionist collective despite exhibiting with them, but shared their desire to capture contemporary life through an unfiltered lens. Though underappreciated for much of his brief career, Manet is now viewed as an essential pivot between tradition and modernity.