| Edouard Manet: From 1860 (the year he created his first original print) etching and lithography became as important to Edouard ManetÂ’s art as his celebrated paintings. Manet was one of the first artists to actively experiment with etching during its revival in France and even contributed an original plate to the first issue published by the Societe des Aquafortistes. During this time Manet also came into contact with other great pioneers of etching and lithography, such as Bracquemond, Ribot, Legros, Whistler and Fantin-Latour. As well, Manet was a close friend of the influential poet, Charles Baudelaire (1821-1867), who, through his perceptive and critical writings championed the cause of etching as the highest form of artistic creativity. |
