The Roots of Modern Painting: From Manet to Cezanne

This course provides a comprehensive overview of the development of modern painting from the mid-19th to early twentieth centuries, making extensive use of the Met Museum's impressive collection of Impressionist and Post-Impressionist paintings. We will look at the paintings of Manet, Degas, Seurat, and other painters of modern life in bustling Paris, exploring how their innovative techniques and unique perspectives challenged traditional artistic conventions and paved the way for the likes of Picasso and Matisse. The course will be divided into four classroom lectures that will provide a solid foundation for understanding the significance of these revolutionary contributions and four museum visits to see the works up close. By studying such works as Berthe Morisot's The Pink Dress (1870), Renoir's By the Seashore (1883), and Cézanne's Mont Sainte-Victoire (1902-1906), students will gain a deeper understanding of the artistic movements that revolutionized the art world and made Paris the epicenter of modern art for decades to come. A special section will be devoted to the women artists who played a crucial role in the development of Impressionism, shedding light on their often overlooked contributions to art history. French poet and art critic Charles Baudelaire's essay "The Painter of Modern Life" will be a key text for our discussions, offering valuable insights into the social and cultural context in which these artists were operating.

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