12/19/2016

Reasons Why The Oil Painting Olympia By Manet Is Revolutionary

By Timothy Moore


Some of the best paintings were made using oil paint. The most realistic ones were by the great artists from the Renaissance. The subjects for the works made during this era were essentially religious, evolving around concepts with an abundance of cherubs, biblical characters, gods and goddesses.

Venus was a favorite subject especially when portraying nudes. Another notable thing with traditional art is how they are so incredibly life like. Pieces made during this time barely showed brush strokes even when painting using oil, which is a very thick medium. Manet was that one artist that defied all things traditional with his oil painting Olympia.

When it comes to technicalities this piece is not particularly the best reference. But what makes it one that deserves eternal praise is how it stroke a cord among art critics at the time. It was seen as mockery instead of art. The beauty of the artwork in question did not revel in how attractive the subject was rendered but how the whole concept is an honest slap of the imperfections of human beauty at the face of 1865 France.

Instead of Venus, her being a symbol of greatness and purity, he used Olympia. The setting was in France 1865. Around the time, the name Olympia was common among prostitutes and to support that claim, you can see a black choker around her neck which was a sign that would tell people what a woman did for a living.

Now you may think this chick was your run off the mill girl, but as you can see she had a servant. This entails that the subject was of a higher position in the job that she holds. The servant also holds a bouquet which seemingly comes from a patron. What shocked people during the era when this work was released was how vulgar the piece was.

It gives you the impression that this era of France was hung up on the convoluted perception of beauty and the standard was that of royalty or deity. One thing that makes the subject stand out is how it deliberately stares at you, straight in the eye, as if it was coaxing you for looking at her. Most nudes of Venus made during this time always had the subject looking away, if even at all.

This feature is not the only thing that makes it sexual. Notice that there are barely any details on shadow and contrary to what was conventional at the time, brush strokes can be clearly seen. It was as if the artist wanted people to make sure they knew they were looking at a painting. What makes it eternally captivating is the honesty that viewers are forced to see.

Essentially art was always made to rattle the comforts of its viewers and comfort those that live within the insanity of their reality. This work in particular is a great first step towards more modern styles and a come back towards abstract art. You could not call it purely traditional since the subject and its background do not have the shadowing that was common to works that were made during the era.

Revolutionary is what this piece became when released to the public during its time. And like any work made for that purpose, was met with disdain, laughter and criticism. Manet effectively broke tradition and was unapologetic about showing his perspective on reality. France of 1865 was not ready to face the truth that the goddess they come to know has been reduced into a courtesan, especially one that stares you dead straight in the eye.




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