Manet's eye for color

Eduard Manet (1832-1883) was a French painter who greatly influenced the Impressionists by using rich colors to make astounding affect in his art.
The Impressionists were a group of artists that were interested in the Realist’s point of view on art so they started working with Gustave Courbet and his fellow Realists.
Later, in the 1850’s, those artists campaigned against the influence of academic art since academic art used historic, religious and mythological themes.

Young Man in the Costume of a Majo

The Impressionists were also very influenced by Japanese woodblock prints that just then reached the West. They liked the bright colors used by the Japanese and the casual behavior of the figures in the artworks.
They were also very influenced by early photography. It showed exactly the way that animals and humans walked.
But, the Impressionists did celebrate modern Parisian life. They painted chores, landscape and everyday life. Adding shades and sparkles from light were important touches to their artwork since they usually preferred working outside.