What was Manet's central artistic theory or idea?
My central concern was to render the present moment and the reality I observed. I wasn't interested in grand historical narratives or idealized forms. Instead, I focused on the surface of things, the play of light, and the unvarnished depiction of everyday people and scenes. The flat application of paint and the deliberate engagement with the viewer were means to achieve this directness. It was about seeing, truly seeing, and translating that vision without embellishment.
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