How to Tell Monet From Manet

Claude Monet (1840 – 1926) and Édouard Manet (1832 – 1883) are among the artistic superstars of the 19th century. Both artists were highly avantgarde and embraced modernity in their own distinct ways. Monet, as the master of sensibility and capturer of light, and Manet with his bold choices of motifs. Let’s explore how their subjects, style, and color palettes differ through some of the iconic artworks that defined their careers.

Self portraits by both artists. Left: Claude Monet (1840 – 1926) and right: Édouard Manet (1832 – 1883) © Wikimedia Commons

Claude Monet and his Ravishing Impressions of Nature

The mesmerising masterpiece Impression Sunrise from 1872 by Claude Monet gave the impressionistic painters their name. An art movement characterized by lush, visible brushstrokes, exploration of light, fearless use of colour and sensation over form when depicting a motif. Like in Impression, Sunrise Monet constantly returned to sea and landscapes throughout his career and rarely painted people. He also did several series, like The Haystacks and Mornings on the Seine, where he returned to the same motif repeatedly in different lighting conditions.

"Impression Sunrise" from 1872, the start of Impressionism as a movement. © Wikimedia Commons

When it comes to style and technique, Monet was usually applying pure colours directly from the tube on the canvas, without blending them, like in Mornings on the Seine he started to paint directly in front of the subject with rapid and light brushstrokes. His artistic expression was highly influenced by J.M.W Turner, whose works Monet had encountered early in his career in the National Gallery in London.

Mornings on the Seine from 1898. © Wikimedia Commons

Interestingly, Monet’s late style almost evolved into pure abstraction, like the compositions of Water Lilies that were painted from his home in Giverny for Musée de l’Orangerie in Paris. In these later works, it’s noticeable how the brushstrokes have become larger, broader and freer. Like his peers Monet was mainly working in bright hues of pastel with strokes of white atop to emphasis the reflection of light.

Water Lilies from 1919 lives at MoMa in New York. © Wikimedia Commons

Edouard Manet and his Revolutionary Way of Depicting Women

Unlike Claude Monet, Édouard Manet’s interest laid in portraying people, often in the form of expressive and earnest scenes from modern Parisian society. And just like Monet´s natural scenes this topic was considered very radical by the tastemakers from the French Academy of Fine Arts’, who favoured subjects like mythological allegories and historical paintings.

In fact, Manet created quite a stir in the Parisian art world when he exhibited Luncheon on the Grass 1863 and Olympia a few years later, since it was considered scandalous to show naked women that weren’t presented as a mythological creature and on top of that, firmly met the viewers gaze, instead of coyly looking away.

The paintress Victorine-Louise Meurent was often his muse, here pictured both in Olympia from 1863 and The Railway from 1873 (below). © Wikimedia Commons

© Wikimedia Commons

Manet’s genuine interest in capturing the essence of the woman in front of him, rather than a romantic illusion of femininity, could further be seen in paintings like The Railway from 1873 and Boating from 1874.

Just like Monet Manet was experimenting with different painting techniques, like in his infamous Luncheon on the Grass where he’s playing around with depth, perspective and blocks of colour. But even if Manet was more of an avant-garde realist than an impressionist, his style counts as a predecessor to this art movement. Especially in his later works one could see how Manet’s brushstrokes become looser and more visible and the depiction less detailed.

Realism at its finest: "A Bar at the Folies-Bergère" from 1882 is one of Manet's last great works. © Wikimedia Commons

It’s also noticeable how his colour palette evolves from being more earthy and influenced by Spanish Old Masters like Francisco de Goya and Diego Velázquez to include more brighter pastels.

Shared Motifs: Bridging Nature and Modernity

Despite their distinct styles and approaches, Claude Monet and Édouard Manet shared an affinity for motifs that reflected the essence of their times. Both artists were deeply inspired by the evolving world around them, often focusing on modernity, leisure, and the intersection of humanity with nature.

"Argenteuil" was a shared title for both artists. Manet's scenes retained stronger ties to Realism (left), focusing on the human experience, while Monet's "Argenteuil" emphasise the atmosphere - a serene, idyllic riverside town. © Wikimedia Commons

For Monet, nature was the ultimate muse, with its endless possibilities for capturing the interplay of light and color. Manet, on the other hand, often placed humanity within natural or urban settings, blending the serenity of landscapes with the vibrant energy of modern life. A striking example of their shared interest in leisure by the water can be seen in Argenteuil , a title used by both Monet and Manets. Both works depict scenes of relaxation by the water, but while Monet's brushstrokes emphasize the transient beauty of light dancing on the surface, Manet's composition highlights the social interaction and individual personalities of his subjects.

"Luncheon on the Grass" was also a shared title for two masterpieces. To the left: Manet's version from 1963, and Monet's homage from 1965-66 to the right. © Wikimedia Commons

Another shared motif lies in their exploration of gardens and outdoor spaces, albeit from contrasting perspectives. Monet’s gardens in Giverny became his sanctuary and creative laboratory, inspiring iconic works such as Water Lilies. Manet, however, used gardens as dynamic social spaces, as seen in Luncheon on the Grass, where the setting becomes as much a stage for human interaction as it is a depiction of nature.

Artistry Simplified: Realism by Manet (left) captures the woman from a social point of view, making her experience the central motive. In contrast, the Impressionistic piece by Monet (right) emphasises the environment, with light and atmosphere surrounding the woman becoming the true focus. © Wikimedia Commons

Through these shared themes, Monet and Manet reveal a profound connection to the world they inhabited, each presenting a unique lens that captured the essence of 19th-century modernity. Their overlapping motifs underscore the dialogue between their works, showing how two visionary artists could interpret the same world in profoundly different, yet equally compelling, ways.

Were they Friends?

Claude Monet and Édouard Manet had an intriguing relationship, marked by both camaraderie and creative tension. They moved within the same avant-garde art circles in 19th-century Paris and shared mutual respect for each other’s talent, though their approaches to art were distinct.

Manet's portrait of Monet captures his close relationship with nature and his en plein air artistry © Wikimedia Commons

In the early 1870s, Monet invited Manet to visit him in Argenteuil, a suburban retreat where Monet often painted idyllic natural scenes. During this visit, Manet painted The Monet Family in Their Garden at Argenteuil, capturing Monet, his wife Camille, and their child.

Manet capturing the Monet family at a visit in Argenteuil. © Wikimedia Commons

What’s amusing is that Manet reportedly struggled to adapt to painting outdoors, a hallmark of Monet’s technique. While Monet thrived en plein air, Manet’s preference for studio work made the experience somewhat uncomfortable for him. Nevertheless, the visit resulted in a beautiful blend of their styles.

Words from a Specialist

Cecilia Berggren, expert in classical art in Stockholms Auktionsverk: “Both artists have a great legacy and are names that really define the impressionist movement, which feels very close to people who love art. They both have ways of transporting us to another place and time - it can be a boulevard in Paris or in the magical hours of morning light in a field - and for me this is great art - it makes your mind go places whilst standing still.” 

Cecilia Berggren, Specialist at Classical Art, Stockholms Auktionsverk

If anything would be possible, which Monet and Manet work would be the absolute
dream to include in a sale?

“Ah, the art specialists dream. I would think that a classic Monet with water lilies would have a higher hammer but to have Luncheon on the Grass or Olympia in a sale would feel like having a contemporary painting in the Classic Art department. There is something so interesting with the juxtaposition in those paintings.”

To Sum it Up

Claude Monet and Édouard Manet are two of the artistic masterminds from the 19th century. However, the two painters differ in style, where Manet is more of an avant-garde realist who usually painted in an earthier colour palette. Claude Monet, one of the key members of impressionism favoured bright hues of pastel executed with light, rapid brushstrokes. While Monet is the great master of capturing the play of light in idyllic natural scenes, Manet is portraying people in a modern way, that often challenged the art establishment.