Without a doubt, Edouard Manet was born into the ranks of the Parisian bourgeoisie. His mother was a woman of refinement and god daughter of Charles Bernadotte, the Crown Prince of Sweden. His father, Auguste Manet, was a magistrate and judge who hoped that Edouard would someday follow in his footsteps.

Manet did not excel within the academic environment but he showed a propensity toward drawing and the arts. In 1850, Manet entered the studio of Thomas Couture where he studied until 1856. He was influenced by the old masters, but reasoned that ones art should reflect ideas and ideals of the present rather then the past, so Manet sought to follow a contemporary realism.

He began his career portraying a darker side of Parisian life which was quite removed from Manet's circle, but nonetheless very real. His loose handling of paint and lack of subject matter separated his paintings from the highly finished canvasses approved of by the academy, and accepted by the Salon.

Manet used a technique known as "Alla Prima", closely to that of the 1600's painter Fran Hals. In addition, his paintings have an ambience that has the "snapshot" quality taken up so well by Edgar Degas and developed further by the Impressionists. Add to that, the Parisian love of "all things Spanish", and one of Manet's first works was accepted by the Salon.

By 1874 Manet's reputation as experimental artist and leader of the Impressionists was firmly established. The Cafe Guerbois, near Manet's studio became the gathering spot for Monet, Renoir, Sisley, Degas and Camille Pissarro. Manet presided over the regular meeting and debates held at the cafe, but he was not enthusiastic about his role as leader of the avant-garde.

In 1874, when the Impressionists held their first exhibition at Paul Nadar's studio, Manet refused to participate. He chose instead to remain focused on the Salon. He never exhibited in any of the eight exhibitions but never abandoned the Impressionists.

Throughout his life Manet painted modern day life, yet many of his paintings are more than simple mimetic depictions. Manet sought to record his life with his own unique vision.

Edouard Manet, The Father of Impressionism, died, in Paris, 1883.