This week, I thought I would talk about Edouard Manet's Corner of a Cafe Concert, a painting which I saw in the National Gallery in London. I like Manet's work not just because it is pleasing to the eye but because it conveys emotion. I particularly like his ability to make faces thought provoking. Edouard Manet was a French artists born in 1832 in Paris. His father was a successful jurist while his mother was the daughter of a diplomat. His parents wanted him to enter one of the respectable professions rather than pursue his love of art. It was not until after Manet had failed his entrance exams for the naval academy that his family relented and allowed him to study art. While his family's resistance to his desired career must have been emotionally difficult for the young Manet, his family background provided a firm foundation for his art. Because he was financially secure, he was able to travel around Europe to view the works of past masters and to av...
I grew up with art. Both my mother and father were artists. Not surprisingly, I have always done artwork. However, my primary focus for most of my life has been elsewhere - - music, law, writing and travel. Now, I am returning home. This blog reflects that journey homeward. My intent is to write about my thoughts on art, art technique and to review other art that I have seen. Some of my artwork can be seen at http://www.beyondshipsart.com