Olympia is one of the most famous paintings of renowned painter Edouard Manet. The masterpiece is an oil painting done on canvas.
Olympia is as everyone knows a nude painting. The artist had not made any attempt to cover up the nakedness. He perhaps wanted to dramatize the effect; because right next to the naked woman stands a fully dressed maid. The artist has in fact created a stark contrast which is glaring and makes the nudity more apparent. A number of details in the painting point that the model chosen by Manet was a courtesan.
The woman who is fully undressed is shown lying on an oriental stole on a couch. A maid stands next to her with a big bouquet of flowers. The look on the maids face is interestingly normal. There is no sense of discomfort to be standing next to a naked woman who is obviously posing for the painting in the nude. This is of interest as the society back then was not as liberated as we find it today. The model wears an orchid in her hair. There is a black cord around her neck, which highlights her pale skin. A bracelet and pearl earrings are her other adornments. She wears a blue strapped slipper on one foot as the other lies carelessly removed.
The subject's hand covers her private parts; even though her breasts are exposed. There is not a hint of awkwardness as she poses in the nude. It seems obvious she feels her supremacy over everyone around. The black cat is symbolic of the woman's profession which is prostitution.
Improve the look of your space by hanging an Edouard Manet painting Olympia. Today this painting has been carefully recreated detail-by-detail to near perfection as a complete canvas art reproduction. Why settle for a print when you can add sophistication to your rooms with a beautiful fine gallery reproduction oil painting? Why not grace your home with this reproduced masterpiece? It is sure to bring many admirers!
