Paris, March 3 (ZXS) -- The large-scale special exhibition "Manet and Degas" made a grand appearance at the Musée d'Orsay in Paris on the 28th local time. The exhibition reveals the entanglement of the relationship between the two French painters and reproduces an important part of the history of Western painting in the second half of the 28th century.
The picture shows museum staff explaining the paintings to visitors. Photo by Li Yang, reporter of China News Agency
The reporter saw at the scene that there was an endless stream of people who came to see the exhibition, and hundreds of people were waiting to enter. Although there were strikes and demonstrations on the same day, they did not dampen people's enthusiasm in the slightest. The exhibition was originally to be unveiled by French President Emmanuel Macron's wife Brigitte and Queen Camilla, but due to the postponement of King Charles III's visit to France, the unveiling event could not take place.
More than 100 paintings by Manet and Degas, as well as their personal objects such as letters, are on display. The exhibition looks back at their painting careers from a parallel perspective, exploring how they met, knew each other, influenced each other on the path of art, but eventually parted ways.
Both Manet and Degas were born in Paris, France, of similar age, both from academic backgrounds, and the two had a close relationship in their early years, and Manet is regarded as Degas's artistic guide. Both Manet and Degas have created similar or even identical works, such as portraits. But their different ideas about painting can be seen in their early works, which laid the groundwork for the collapse of their later relationship.
Two portraits of women created by Manet and Degas are displayed side by side. Photo by Li Yang, reporter of China News Agency
The trigger for the collapse of Manet's relationship with Degas was Degas's "The Manets". It is popular to say that Degas gave the painting to Manet, who expected Manet to cut the part of Madame Manet in the painting, and Degas was very annoyed when he learned about it, so he returned the painting that Manet had given him. Although the two later said they wanted to reconcile, their relationship never went back.
This exhibition presents this rare "Mr. and Mrs. Manet". The work mainly presents the lazy image of Manet reclining on the sofa. Although parts of Madame Manet have been cut, it is conceivable that the depiction of Madame Manet in the original painting should have been exquisite.
The picture shows Degas's oil painting "Mr. and Mrs. Manet" on display in the exhibition, which became the trigger for the collapse of Manet's relationship with Degas. Photo by Li Yang, reporter of China News Agency
In fact, Manet and Degas had many disagreements in promoting modern painting; Manet is considered the founder of Impressionism, but he scoffed at Impressionism; Degas is a famous painter of Impressionism, but his works have a strong realist style. It is the mutual borrowing and influence of the two that jointly promote the advent of a new era of Western painting art.
The exhibition will be on display at the Musée d'Orsay until July 7, followed by the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York in September. (End)