A framed painting by Edouard Manet entitled "Jetty at Boulogne".

Edouard Manet (23 January 1832 to 30 April 1883) was a French painter. He was one of the first 19th century artists to paint modern life, and a pivotal figure in the transition from Realism to Impressionism. His early caused great controversy and served as rallying points for the young painters who would create Impressionism. Today, these are considered watershed paintings that mark the genesis of modern art. He became friends with the Impressionists Edgar Degas, Claude Monet, Pierre Auguste Renoir, Alfred Sisley, Paul Cezanne and Camille Pissarro through another painter, Berthe Morisot. Manet became the friend and colleague of Berthe Morisot in 1868. She is credited with convincing Manet to attempt plein air painting, which she had been practicing since she was introduced to it by another friend of hers, Camille Corot. They had a reciprocating relationship and Manet incorporated some of her techniques into his paintings. In 1874, she became his sister in law when she married his brother, Eugene.