Manet and the Birth of the Subject

Abstract

  The painting of Édouard Manet has often been analyzed by art historians, philosophers and sociologists. What mainly stays in the scope of that analysis is Manet’s role in autonomization of the art field, his ability to portray the experience of blossoming modernity and his groundbreaking ability to depict XIXth century social relations. The most recognized analysis of Manet’s heritage is the one of Pierre Bourdieu. The sociologist raises questions such as relation between „heretics” and academic art, the process of destabilizing the power of consecrated art or finally the process of institutionalization of autonomy. At the same time, Michel Foucault’s view on Manet’s revolution is barely recognized. The aim of this article is to follow three main issues which appear in Foucault’s research on Manet undertaken between 1966–1968 in Tunis. First of all it is playing with the physical properties of the painting (canvas, size, shape, relation between the art work and the exhibition space). Second of all it is the way of using light (starting from the natural lighting to the lighting created by the painter). What is most important, the question of yet emerging relation between the viewer and the XIXth century art work will be undertaken. On the one hand the author discusses the changes in humans’ perception of that time. On the other hand she elaborates the problem of involving art in disciplinary processes. In that context the article also tries to reflect on possible ways of analyzing issues such as power or discipline.