Edouard Manet (1832-1883) was a French modernist painter known for his candid realism and his role in the transition from Realism to Impressionism. Born into an upper-class household, Manet was encouraged to pursue a career in law, but he instead became engrossed in the world of painting.
His early masterworks, such as "The Luncheon on the Grass" and "Olympia," caused controversy and were initially rejected by the Academy of Fine Arts.
However, they were later praised by progressive artists and are now considered watershed paintings that mark the start of modern art.
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