Colleen Barry NYC Artist

I love this arm & Manet on Art

Added 2025-02-16 16:19:50 +0000 UTC

"I do not want to be an imitator of nature, but a painter of modern life."

"Art is not what you see, but what you make others see."

"In painting, there are two things that count: technique and character."

"I am the first to be shocked at what I do, but I am only following Courbet."

It is reported that Gustave Courbet once compared Édouard Manet's painting Olympia (1863) to a "playing card". Courbet's remark was a critical one, reflecting his dissatisfaction with the style and approach Manet employed. He felt that Manet's work, particularly in Olympia, was overly simplified and lacked the depth and substance Courbet associated with serious painting. The comparison to a playing card suggested that Manet's work seemed shallow and too direct, lacking the complexity and depth that Courbet believed was necessary for fine art.

This comment highlights the tensions between the two artists, with Courbet being a leading figure in realism and Manet developing his own path, which blended realism with new approaches, ultimately paving the way for Impressionism.

In Ross King's The Judgment of Paris, there is a passage where Édouard Manet criticizes Gustave Courbet’s use of form, comparing it to "billiard balls." This critique is part of a broader commentary on Courbet's style, particularly his approach to painting the female body.

In the book, Manet is reported to have said something along the lines of:

"Courbet’s figures are too round. They look like billiard balls."

This remark reflects Manet's critique of Courbet's approach to form, which he felt was “over formed” and lacked the flatter refinement Manet preferred. Manet’s criticism highlights the differences in their artistic visions—while Courbet focused on raw realism, Manet sought a more nuanced approach, often using lighter, less exaggerated forms.