Synopses & Reviews
In this encounter between one of the 20th centurys greatest minds and an artist fundamental to the development of modern art, French philosopher Michel Foucault explores Edouard Manets importance in the overthrow of traditional values in painting.
Originally delivered in Tunis in 1971 as part of a conference on Manet and here translated into English for the first time, this powerful critique takes the form of a commentary on 13 of Manets paintings. For the political-minded philosopher, the connection between visual art and power was clear: art is not an aesthetic pursuit, but a means to exploreand challengepower dynamics. A precursor to Foucaults later work on le regard, or the gaze, the text examines paintings like Un Bar aux Folies-Bergére, where Manet used the mirror to imply the multiple gaze of the waitress, the viewer, and the man at the bar, who may or may not be the artist himself. Foucault used Manet as a basis for a wider exploration of culture.
With a new introduction by leading French critic and Tate curator Nicolas Bourriaud and a note on the translation by Matthew Barr, this is a major contribution to the fields of both modern philosophy and art history.
Synopsis
Today, it seems astonishing that the work of Edouard Manet (1832andndash;83), the master French painter, was controversial in his day. His subversive handling of both paint and subject matter, coupled with his detached gaze, shocked contemporariesandmdash;but established him as the father of modern painting. This remarkable book, published to accompany an important traveling exhibition, explores the artistandrsquo;s stylistic evolution in the context of his portraiture. The relationship between Manetandrsquo;s portraits and his genre scenes is presented for the first time, illustrated by such masterpieces as
The Luncheon (In the Studio) of 1868, and
In the Conservatory (M. and Mme. Guillemet) of 1879. Leading authorities consider such topics as the influence of 17th-century Dutch painters, parallels with Renoir, and links with early photography.
Praise for Manet:
andldquo;Lush portraits as arresting today as they were when they were first exhibited.andrdquo;
andmdash;Vogue
About the Author
Michel Foucault (1926-1984) was an internationally renowned French historian and philosopher, associated with the structuralist and post-structuralist movements. His many books include The Order of Things, The History of Sexuality and Madness, and Civilization: A History of Insanity in the Age of Reason. Nicolas Bourriaud, a critical theorist, is Gulbenkian Curator of Contemporary Art at Tate Britain and co-founder of the Palais de Tokyo in Paris.