A little wonder, every day
The uncertainty around Léon Manet’s parentage
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AI concept, not a historical portrait.
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Léon-Édouard Koëlla-Leenhoff was born to Suzanne Leenhoff in 1852, before her marriage to artist Édouard Manet. Publicly, the boy was presented as Suzanne’s younger brother; privately, he called Suzanne and Édouard his godparents. His biological father is unknown: possibilities include Édouard Manet, his father Auguste, or one of the Koëlla musicians. If Auguste was the father, Léon would have been Édouard’s half-brother.


