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There are currently 25 member reviews
for The Lost Notebook of Edouard Manet
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Bonne O. (Hartwell, GA)
UNCOMPROMISING PASSION
History has shown that every evolutionary artistic period has been fraught with resistance. Manet's Journal illustrates the challenges and consequences for artists who tread outside the boundaries of tradition. Manet's desire for artistic freedom of expression clashes with his financial and personal need to please the public and his critics. This is a recurring theme even today among artists. The author, Maureen Gibbons has written an enchanting story to express how this well known artist maneuvered within the competitive environment of the late 18th century ultimately being recognized as the father of Modern Art. With comical tidbits and personal insights, he manages to pursue his passion for painting even while suffering with a debilitating illness. Including relevant illustrations of his paintings would be a wonderful addition for the reader. This is the type of book that would inspire artists of all genres' and should be a staple in any Art Centers reference library.
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Carol F. (Lake Linden, MI)
Manet's Diary
Although this book is a fictional account of the last days of Edouard Manet, the many references to his actual paintings and the people who were close to him make the diary feel like a true memoir. I particularly liked how the models he used in his paintings were made real by the descriptions of their everyday life and family. Because it is written as a diary it seems more believable as some days there is one sentence and some days he seems eager to express his innermost thoughts. I had never read a book by Maureen Gibbon before but will surely look for others now!
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Beverly D. (Palm Harbor, FL)
19 th century Paris !!!
A perfect book for Francophiles...especially with artistic leanings. Although fictional, I felt, based on the author's use of some exceptional sources, this read as an actual diary of the great artist's last years. The desperation due to his illness, his determination to continue his work and the intimacy he felt with his many muses truly read as a diary that he added to as he continued the inevitable downward spiral. I appreciated the author's casual style and how much of the Parisian "everyday" life found its way into the diary. An illuminating read into the life and processes of a true gift genius. Highly recommended!
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Susan B. (Fort Myers, FL)
Keeping company with Manet
An insightful look inside the mind of the famous artist, I kept waiting for each page to see how he was doing with his illness and how he was going to select what to sketch and paint. His thoughts on his contemporary friends was very interesting and at times amusing. The diary form of writing his is masterful.
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Susan W. (Leesburg, VA)
An artist's life
I surprisingly enjoyed this book. Not always a fan of books written in a diary mode or style, this book kept my interest so much so that I wanted to know what Manet would write. The author wove a wonderful and poignant story about an artist and his appetites and their consequences. Well done!
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Jennifer B. (Oviedo, FL)
Edouard Manet
With eagerness I read The Lost Notebook of Edouard Manet. As an avid, albeit amateur, lover of Art History the knowledge I have of Edouard Manet is sketchy. It was intriguing to study him through personal notes in workbook and diary format. The personal insight into his methods of style and creativity whilst battling a painful, debilitating disease was fascinating. It was also interesting to read about Manet's relationships with his peers in the artist community.
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MRoy (Montrose, CO)
A Creative Approach
What a creative approach to write a novel. All along I felt I was reading Manet's personal anecdotes. It is a glimpse in the last three years of a man with pain and physical limitations but still an artist. There are descriptions of how the pain limits Manet's whereabouts and the choices of his subjects for sketching, but he discovers small joys in nature that gave him a sense of purpose.
What I found the most interesting in this notebook was Manet, the painter. The painting "A Bar at the Folies-Bergères" is an example of what he wants to paint, why he paints it and how he paints it. I also learned about the world surrounding the life of an artist in Paris in the early 1880s with the competition, the critics, the accolades and the honors. It was a slow read at the beginning, but I found it worth reading till the end. I studied art in college.
Thank you BookBrowse and Netgalley for a free ebook in return for an honest review.
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