“Lilacs” by Edouard Manet (Image provided)

By DARLA MCCAMMON
Lakeland Art Association

If you recall, our daffodil artist Morisot (sometimes spelled Morrisott) was an impressionist. She was a contemporary and friend of this week’s spring flower artist, Edouard Manet.

Manet, like Morisot, transitioned from stark realism to impressionism in his work. Impressionism generally has softer edges and creates the “feeling” or “impression” one has from viewing a subject. This work of “Lilacs” is a very good example by Manet. Isn’t it lovely? We are finally experiencing some weather that will encourage these beautiful lilac bushes to put out their distinctive fragrance and profuse blooms.

Manet, like Morisot was a controversial figure in the world of art during the mid 1800s in France. He was born into wealth. His mother was the daughter of a French diplomat and the goddaughter of the Swedish crown prince. His father, a judge, was disappointed when his son became interested in a career in painting rather than law. An uncle, however, encouraged Manet’s artistic endeavors, took him to the Louvre and recommended his enrollment in a drawing course where he was to meet the future minister of fine arts, Antonin Prouse.

Manet and Prouse became lifelong friends and eventually Manet’s father, after pushing him to join the Navy, finally relented and tolerated his desire to pursue art. Manet, unlike many of his fellow impressionists, continued to enter and associate with the Salon de Paris, the more traditional body of artists in those days. His work was excluded from this august body in 1867 and at that time he spent a great deal of money and produced his own exhibition.

Manet did much more than florals. His work covered a broad number of subjects, including many Parisian scenes, along with depictions of war. Later, he painted scenes showing the entertainments of the upper class from which he originated. Manet died fairly young, in his 50s, from complications of untreated syphilis. More of his biography can be found on several sites on the Internet.

Wannabe artists take note: One of Manet’s paintings received much negative criticism at the time it was unveiled, but today it is in our own National Gallery of Art in Washington, D.C. The painting is titled, “The Railway,” and was completed in 1873.

Upcoming and current events:

• New exhibit of the Senior art student show from Grace College at Warsaw city hall. Open 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. daily. A new group of student work is now on exhibit. Free admission.
• LAA is now hosting, “Hoosier Beauty: Photographs of Indiana,” a stunning exhibit of photographers Emily Deneve, Howard Shoemaker and Arturo Yanez. The exhibit features work from tip to toe of Indiana. Open through April 30, at 302 E. Winona Ave. Warsaw, 11:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Wednesday through Saturday.
• Fourth Monday of each month, visit the new LAA gallery in the evening for special programs. Call (574) 269-1101 for dates, subject of the program and times.
• 2016 Honeywell Clark Gallery is accepting entries June 7 from 11 a.m. to 2p.m. for themed art competition. The theme is, “Indiana Bicentennial.”
• Don’t forget to pick up your May free issue of “glo” magazine to view the cover created by your author, Darla McCammon. Inside, this issue will feature a bit about Darla as well.

Contact your author/artist Darla McCammon at [email protected] or go online to www.darlamc.com.