The inventor of modernity Violently criticized during his lifetime for his supposedly provocative paintings, French painter Edouard Manet (1832-1883) is now considered a master of inestimable importance in the history of painting. His 1863 painting "Dejeuner sur l herbe" depicting two clothed men picnicing with a nude woman now considered one of the most memorable images of the 19th century stirred up controversy for what many considered its vulgar audacity. It was famously rejected by the Paris Salon and exhibited in the Salon des Refuses. Manet s bold style helped pave the way from Realism to Impressionism, and in doing so ushered in the age of modern art. About the Series: Each book in TASCHEN s Basic Art series features: a detailed chronological summary of the life and oeuvre of the artist, covering his or her cultural and historical importance a concise biography approximately 100 illustrations with explanatory captions "