In focus: Édouard Manet

Join Dr Amy Mechowski for an in-depth exploration of Édouard Manet, a central figure in the emergence of modern painting.

Born in Paris in 1832 to a wealthy family, Manet trained with Thomas Couture and developed his style through close study of Old Masters such as Velázquez, adopting a bold, direct handling of paint that challenged academic convention. Often described as the elder statesman of the Impressionists, though he never exhibited with them, Manet worked at the heart of Parisian artistic life, depicting modern subjects that frequently provoked controversy.

Through close looking at key works, this session will examine how Manet combined a restricted palette, strong contrasts of light and shadow and a free, painterly technique to create striking and unconventional images. From the scandal of ‘Olympia’ to his later scenes of urban life, we will consider how Manet navigated between tradition and innovation, influencing a generation of artists while continuing to seek recognition at the Salon, and ultimately redefining the possibilities of art in the 19th century.

Dr Amy Mechowski is a freelance art historian, lecturer and curator, specialising in issues of sexuality and gender in 19th‐century art and material culture. Among her most recent publications is a chapter in ‘Sculpture, Sexuality and History’, exploring the display and reception of 19th‐century sculptures of the female nude in the V&A (Palgrave, 2019). Previously working as a Curator at the V&A and then as Head of the V&A Academy, she now leads courses for Sotheby’s Institute of Art.

Can't make the session but don't want to miss out? No problem, you can watch again.

The session is recorded and made available to you for 2 weeks.

A video of the week's lecture will be uploaded and available for you to watch via your National Gallery account on Wednesday.

This is an online ticketed course hosted on Zoom. Please book a ticket to access the course.

Only one ticket can be booked per account.

You will be emailed an E-ticket with instructions on how to access the course via your National Gallery account. All course information including your Zoom link, weekly handouts, and recordings will be available here.