Édouard Manet: Olympia (1863)

(Musée d'Orsay, Paris, France)

A painting by the French artist Édouard Manet (1832-1883). This painting was inspired by a painting by the Italian artist Titian (1488/90-1576), the Venus of Urbino. The piece shows a naked reclining woman with a fully clothed maid bringing a bouquet of flowers. The naked woman has been identified as Victorine-Louise Meurent (1844 - 1927) and the maid as Laure, both who worked as models for Manet. when this painting was first exhibited, the confrontational gaze of Olympia shocked contemporary audiences. Several details in the painting identify Olympia as a prostitute: her name ("Olympia" was a name associated with prostitutes in 1860s Paris), the orchid in her hair, her bracelet, pearl earrings and the oriental shawl. Painting from 1863.