Happy Birthday Edouard Manet!

Dear Edouard Manet

Its January 23 which means its your birthday. I have a gift for you, but first I would like to recall the events that led you to this point, from what you’ve told me. You were born in France where you lived with your mother, Eugenie-Desiree Fournier, who was the daughter of a diplomat and goddaughter of the Swedish prince Charles Bernadotte and your father Auguste Manet who’s occupation was in law as a judge. Your father wanted you to follow in his footsteps and pursue a career in law but it was apparent early on that you were interested in the arts. Your uncle Fourneir encouraged you to paint and for that I believe a great deal of people are grateful, including me. At the suggestion of your uncle you took a certain class in which you met Antonin Proust, the future Minister of Fine Arts and lifelong friend. Your Uncle’s help to did not discourage your father from pushing you toward a job in the navy. But after you twice failed the examination to join your father thankfully relented and freely allowed you to pursue an education in art. I must say when you started people talking with your paintings Luncheon on the Grass and Olympia I was unsure what to think but I appreciated your courage to present them. People called your art “Slap-dash”, to some this style of yours was an unpleasant thing and to others, inspiring. Since your art had been unaccepted you decided to construct a pavilion from which to display your art. Eventually you married Suzanne Leenhoff a dutch pianist who at one point had been hired as your and your piano teacher. This was a great shock to me however since she was rumored to have been at some point your fathers mistress. It appeared you managed to make it work though, as you had a son whom you pictured in your paintings, as well as Suzanne. You had once written, you had “no intention of over throwing old methods of painting, or creating new ones.” but now you are considered one of the first the people to bring about impressionism and to paint modern life which earned you the title as the Father of Modernism.
Finally, I will tell you what I have gotten for you. I thought I would go somewhat simple but still very practical. The gift I chose for you was a modern day camera for you to take pictures of daily life with. Your already somewhat familiar with cameras from your time I’m sure, but the technology of it has been improved quite a bit now. This camera is much smaller so you will be able to carry it around with you wherever you go. It is also in color and you will be able to capture moments almost immediately, this way you will have a much better reference for your paintings without having to have someone pose for you or spend hours capturing a proper sketch of your subjects. This way the paintings will even look more natural because they will be taken directly in the moment of daily life . I hope it serves you well in your future artistic endeavors.
Sincerely,
Lili Mayoral

http://www.biography.com/people/edouard-manet-9397188
http://www.metmuseum.org/toah/hd/mane/hd_mane.htm
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/%C3%89douard_Manet