Olympia

Mediums: oil, canvas.
Dimension: 130,5 x 190 cm.
Dimension: Musée d’Orsay, Paris.

Olympia was modelled by Victorine Meurent and Olympia’s servant – art model Laure. Olympia’s confrontational gaze caused shock and astonishment when the painting was first exhibited, because a number of details in the picture identified her as a prostitute. Those details include the orchid in her hair, her bracelet, pearl earrings and the oriental shawl on which she lies, symbols of wealth and sensuality. Manet’s manner of writing seems very flat. The artist abandoned the traditional “multilayeredness” and thoroughness of applying smears. We can feel the origins of Impressionism in the picture.