Caroline Olympia

Caroline Tripodi

Title: Olympia                                                           

Artist(s) / Architect(s): Edouard Manet                                                                                                    

Date: 1863                                                                 

Period / Culture:                                                     

Location: Musee d’Orsay, Paris, France                  

Scale / Size: 3’3³/₈ x 6’2³/₄                                                                                                            

Materials: Oil Painting                                               

Techniques: Oil on canvas   

                                  

Subject Matter / Content:  The painting above displays a nude women reclining on a bed with a servant standing above her holding flowers. When painting this image in the early 1860’s, Manet chose to replicate the painting Venus of Urbino, but he incorporated a number of changes to modernize his work. Paintings of nude women were very pervasive throughout art history, however most artists portrayed women in an idealistic from (form), eliminating all flaws. Manet chose to be realistic with his painting of Olympia, and he painted her in a way that a normal woman would appear. (be careful, not all "normal" women look like Olympia) Her body is flat and lean, her face is pale and not entirely symmetrical, and her eyes give a penetrating glare that often startles viewers. In fact, the black cat on the end of the bed, which replaced the dog in the painting of Venus, even appears startled at the sight of Olympia. Yes, indeed! :)

Symbolism Used (iconography): There are many uses of symbolism in Manet’s painting of Olympia. The few garments that Olympia is wearing symbolize wealth, since the shoes and jewelry appear to be expensive accessories. The fact that she is naked implies that Olympia may in fact be a prostitute, despite her wealth. The name Olympia also symbolizes prostitution, which is probably why Manet selected it. The flowers that the servant hands Olympia could also represent a gift from one of her clients. The presence of the servant in the painting in general symbolizes the wide class distinction between the two women.                                                                                                         

Contextual Issues Relevant to the Work: This painting was done while slavery still existed in many parts of the world, including the United States, which was struggling through the Civil War. As a result, the presence of a black servant in the painting was not as controversial as it would have been today. It was still normal to view African American individuals as less than human, even in artwork. This conversation about slavery in art, specifically this painting, should be researched more if you are going to refer to this when writing about "Olympia." One could draw parallels between prostitution and slavery in this painting but Manet was focused on breaking with tradition and creating a new language in art. Our conversation in class was a side-note to help us better understand how one might view this work today. More research is required) However something that was very controversial was the humanizing of a prostitute. Many viewers were offended by the looks and portrayal of this prostitute, and they did not want to be reminded of the “darker side of life.”                                                                                                                                    

Formal Qualities of the Work (include Style here): -The contrasting colors and light values in this painting have a very significant impact. All of the colors and objects surrounding Olympia are very dark, including the skin of the servant and the black cat. These dark colors create contrast draw the viewers’ eyes to the center of the painting, where Olympia is portrayed with a very light value.

-The very distinct lines and details on her left hand draw attention to her crotch area, while her breast area is very faded and undefined.

-The overall composition of the painting closely resembles the painting of Venus of Urbino. How?

Intended Audience: The French public and artists who only portray realistic figures.        

(Symbolic) Functions: Sends a message to viewers that it is important to portray women in their realistic forms as well. 

Meaning: 

• Portray a woman in  a realistic way  
• Convey a controversial idea- humanize prostitution
• Convey a class distinction
• Parallel other famous works of art      

Related Themes: 
Woman in a nude form
mythological art
class distinction
Womans role in society
Prostitution

Related Works from the Course: 
Venus of Urbino by Titian
Yasumasa Morimura's Portrait [Futago]

Overall, good work! A bit more research required... Ms.H.W. :)