Manet – Degas, a Troubled Friendship is a film that explores the relationship between two outstanding artists, Édouard Manet and Edgar Degas. Both left a significant cultural legacy not only in France but in the world of art as a whole. Édouard Manet is considered one of the founders of Impressionism.

His contemporary Edgar Degas became one of the prominent and influential figures of the movement. The artists met in 1861. This became a long friendship that lasted until Manet’s death in 1883.

In 1917, the art world was shaken by the news of the death of the Impressionist painter and sculptor Edgar Degas. A rich collection of Édouard Manet’s works was discovered among his belongings, consisting of dozens of paintings. This sparked interest in what connected these two great artists. Today, researchers share their insights on this question.

The viewer of Manet – Degas, a Troubled Friendship learns what may have influenced their relationship. First, their shared artistic direction; second, they were nearly the same age; and third, both had rather complicated personal lives. Manet married a woman who, according to rumors, had previously been his father’s mistress, while little is known about Degas’s relationships.

As for public life, Manet was not only part of the Batignolles group but also held authority within it and was even considered its informal leader. This allowed him to introduce Degas to other artists, which was a valuable moment for him.

Watch Manet – Degas, a Troubled Friendship online on MEGOGO.