Manet and the Making of Modernism

About the Class

What makes art modern? Édouard Manet (1832–1883) wrestled with this question throughout his career, creating a body of work that transformed expectations of what a painting should be and how it should look.

In this four-session online course, we’ll begin with Manet’s groundbreaking Olympia (1863), his frank depiction of a prostitute rendered with rapid, visible brushwork that shocked audiences at the annual Paris Salon. From there, we’ll trace his artistic impact across generations, exploring how artists including Robert Morris, Lorraine O’Grady, and Faith Ringgold responded to and reimagined his work. We’ll also compare Manet’s painterly approach with that of his contemporaries, including Mary Cassatt and Berthe Morisot.

Together, these works will help us return to our opening question—what makes art modern?—and look with fresh eyes at Manet’s paintings in the Barnes collection.

The class is online-only. More about online classes.

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Barnes classes will:

• Sharpen your observational and critical thinking skills.
• Improve your ability to communicate about art.
• Deepen your appreciation for cultures and histories outside your own.

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What Our Students Say

“The instructor was not only knowledgeable but so accessible, and such an inviting presence. She provided great reading to supplement the course.” —Mary Cassatt: Art, Identity, and Independence with Larissa Bailiff

“Pierre brings the art alive with her inside stories and images and how she interacts with the students. She is always able to answer and follow up with more information at the next class.” —Exhibiting Modernism: From the Salon to the Avant-Garde with Caterina Pierre

“Alison Boyd was engaging and effective during the online instruction, and she offered well-selected background materials for further reading.” —Aaron Douglas from Harlem to Philly with Alison Boyd