Édouard Manet was one of the most influential and controversial artists of the nineteenth century. Rejecting many of the conventions of academic painting, he created works that shocked audiences and helped pave the way for modern art. This course examines Manet's major paintings, his use of quotation and reinterpretation of earlier artistic traditions, and his engagement with the social and cultural changes of modern Paris. Through close examination of his works, participants will explore why Manet's art provoked such strong reactions and why he remains a pivotal figure in the history of modern painting. Suitable for anyone interested in art, culture and the origins of modernism.

DELIVERY MODE

• Face-to-Face

SUGGESTED READING

• Richard Brettel, 'Impressionism: Art, Leisure & Parisian Society' (1988)
• Alan Krell, 'Manet and the Painters of Contemporary Life' (1996)
• Carol M. Armstrong, Mary Anne Stevens, Lawrence W. Nichols (et. al), 'Manet Portraying Life' (2013)
• Scott Allan, Emily A. Beeny, Gloria Groom (eds), 'Manet and Modern Beauty' (2019)

COURSE OUTLINE

The course discusses the paintings cited below under the themes The Nude, The Critical Portrait, Pleasurable Haunts, and Politics:

• Le Dejeuner sur l'herbe (1863)
• Olympia (1863)
• Portrait of Emile Zola (1868)
• Argenteuil (1874)
• Chez le Pere lathuile (1879)
• A Bar at the Folies Bergere (1881)
• Execution of Maximillian (1868-69)
• The Rue Mosnier Decked with Flags (1878)
• The Escape of Rochefort (1880-81; large vesrion)

LEARNING OUTCOMES

By the end of this course, students should be able to:

1. Think critically of the artist Edouard Manet and the times in which he lived and worked
2. Understand the dynamics of image analysis
3. Share considered opinions on art