Edouard Manet was considered a flâneur in 19th century Paris, or what might today be called "a slacker." Not only was he at ease among Paris' "Grande Bourgeoisie," but he also spent a considerable amount of time with such influential French writers and poets as Zola and Baudelaire. It was during this avant-garde time that his interest in Realism (painting historical scenes) shifted to painting images of life among Paris' social scene.

Manet's somewhat risqué works, Luncheon on the Grass and Olympia, engendered great controversy, a theme which Manet perpetuated throughout the remainder of his career. What's more, his provocative scenes of "everyday life" struck his audience as only half-finished, a practice characteristic of artists later labeled "Impressionists." He was truly one of the foremost fathers of Modern Art as we know it today.

This film from Kultur Films was shot on location at the Musée d'Orsay, the home of French 19th century art. It was also filmed in Spain, to evoke the landscape and culture which so influenced Manet's early work — and around Paris, where, in the bars, cafes, salons, and theaters, the atmosphere of the society in which Manet lived can still be captured. In fact, archive footage was used throughout the film to give the audience a glimpse into what Paris was like in Manet's day, perhaps what he might have seen as he walked the streets.

See for yourself…and walk in the shoes of one of the true masters of modern art.

Written and directed by Didier Baussy-Oulianoff.

DVD. 55 minutes.