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To what extent were Manet and the Impressionists 'painters of modern life'? The new style of painting, which emerged in Paris in the second half of the 19th century, soon to be classed as 'Impressionist', marked a transition in the realm of art. 'Modern' artists strayed from the classical and in both style and subject matter diverged from traditional practises. To what extent they were painting 'modern life' will be discussed here. This new style of art was a major break from the accepted art forms of the day. Academic art focused on detailed figurative drawings on classical themes. Mythical, historic figures were painted often with a strong political motive behind their use. The new stance taken firstly by Manet and later by the impressionists was a definite anti-academic one, tired of the constraints placed on them by the art world they wanted to express themselves in a truly individual artistic fashion. They were showing their impression of the world around them as a 2-dimensonal pattern of colour, light and shade. The emergence of 'Realism' as a concept was intertwined with the painters' new theories of art. Their new style and form, depicting modern themes, led them down a difficult path in 19th century Paris, wh