Introduction:
French impressionism was a 19th-century art movement that emerged in France and revolutionized painting. The Impressionists, representing the works of Édouard Manet and Edgar Degas, among others, disdain both the rules and traditions of academic art, preferring to represent in their brushes not fixed but changeable ‘impressions’ of light, color, and movement. They painted outdoors with various brush strokes that were rapid and visible and dealt mainly with everyday scenes of modern life, such as urban landscapes, scenes of leisure, and contemporary cityscapes. They also experimented with new techniques and perspectives derived from the invention of photography and the impact of the new media. Impressionism was a radical as well as an innovative style that challenged established norms and opened new possibilities for artistic expression (Britannica 2019).
Works to compare:
- Olympia by Manet, 1863, France, Impressionism
- The Tub by Degas, 1886, France, Impressionism
Both Paint Olympia by Manet and The Tub by Degas are contemporary modern art movements that are part of the impressionist movement(Meyer et al., 2023). Both feature female nudes in erotic contexts, but the approach and vision of this given theme relating to the two artists are dramatically different. Olympia, painted by Manet, is a rather scandalous painting that opposes traditional academic canons and social standards. He portrays a sex worker who stares boldly at the viewer while a black servant brings her flowers from a client. On the other hand, The Tub shows a woman attending to herself while in an immersed zinc tub but with her back geared towards the viewer or the apparent photographer, which gives an impression of the subtle and personal sense of the picture.
Manet’s style is flat and painterly, with very powerful contrasts between light and dark and strong and muted colors. He does refer to the tradition of classical and Renaissance art in his compositions, such as Venus of Urbino by Titian, but overturns its meaning and aesthetic. It is also a modern and realistic statement, critical of the Second Empire’s hypocrisy and corruption. Manet’s Olympia sets the example of avant-garde attempting to revolt against established norms and values by means of a new art of representation.
In contrast, Degas’ The Tub is a small, intimate, and delicate oil that registers time spent on personal hygiene. The artist treats the scene softly and tenderly, with the harmonious color solution and translucent light effect, imitating a new sharp perspective and composition (The Tub, 1886 by Edgar Degas, n.d.). He establishes voyeurism and intimacy, motion, and spontaneity. On the other hand, Degas’s The Tub reflects his regard for the female body and the intimate space, as well as his mastery of drawing and technique. The painting is both an expression of his artistic vision and a glimpse into the mundane activities of daily life.
Works to Compare:
- A Bar at the Folies-Bergère by Manet, 1882, France, Impressionism
- The Dance Class by Degas, 1874, France, Impressionism
Manet’s A Bar at the Folies-Bergère and Degas’s The Dance Class are two paintings of the impressionist period referring to episodes of urban leisure and spectacle in Paris. Nevertheless, they differ substantially in their approach as well as intention. Manet’s painting is a rather immodest and controversial canvas, which questions both academic canons with their hard set of rules and representatives of the artistic world along with solidified norms of society.
Additionally, he uses a flat and painterly style, with strong contrasts of light and dark and bright and muted colors. He also refers to the classical and Renaissance art tradition, for instance, Velázquez’s Las Meninas, but overturns its meaning and aesthetic (Plessis et al., 2023). Manet’s painting is the declaration of modernity and realism, along with being a satire on the cant and corruption of the Second Empire. Degas’ painting is a much more intimate and discreet work, capturing just a moment of everyday life.
He depicted the group of ballerinas accompanied by their mothers waiting for the girls’ dance class at the Paris Opéra. He works delicately, with harmonious colors and refined light effects. Moreover, he experiments with a new perspective and composition influenced by Japanese prints and the recently born photography (Art in Context, 2021). He thus creates the idea of voyeurism and intimacy as well as the irresistibility of movement and spontaneity. Degas’ painting serves the purpose of a bright reflection of his enamoredness with the female body and private sphere, as well as his possession of virtuosity in drawing and being handsome at technique. In conclusion, Manet and Degas were two great masters of French impressionism having close and complicated relationships with each other.
Putting everything together, Both of them depicted contemporaneity, using all the available techniques and influences of impressionism – light, color, movement, photography, and Japanese art. Though they had different styles, goals, and characters, which sometimes clashed, they sometimes supported. They influenced and challenged each other as well as the art world and the society of their time. Their works are still relevant and inspiring today, as they show the diversity and richness of impressionism and the beauty and complexity of life.
References
Britannica. “Impressionism | Definition, History, Art, & Facts.” Encyclopædia Britannica, January 22 2019, www.britannica.com/art/Impressionism-art.
Meyer, Isabella. “French Impressionism – Its History and Characteristics.” Art in Context, January 12, 2023, artincontext.org/french-impressionism/. Accessed December 16 2023.
Plessis, Alicia du. ““A Bar at the Folies-Bergère” by Édouard Manet – a Look.” Art in Context, 27 Sept. 2023, artincontext.org/a-bar-at-the-folies-bergere-by-edouard-manet/. Accessed December 16 2023.
The Tub, 1886 by Edgar Degas. (n.d.). Www.edgar-Degas.net. https://www.edgar-degas.net/the-tub.jsp
Artincontext. (2021, December 3). “The Dance Class” Edgar Degas – Analyzing the “Dance Class” Painting. Artincontext.org. https://artincontext.org/the-dance-class-edgar-degas/
Olympia (Manet). (2022, December 12). Wikipedia. https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Olympia_(Manet)
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