Olympia (published plate)

Art Historical Context

Edouard Manet's *Olympia (published plate)* is a striking etching from 1867, the second state of six, his scandalous 1863 oil painting that shocked Paris at the Salon. The original depicted a nude courtesan boldly confronting the viewer, flanked by a black servant offering flowers and a watchful cat—elements echoed here in tags like female nudes, animals, men, and flowers. This print captureset's modernist challenge to academic traditions, transforming the provocative reclining Venus into a contemporary symbol of urban life and female agency. As an etching, this work showcases Manet's mastery of intaglio printmaking. He drew directly on a copper plate coated with acid-resistant ground, incising lines that acid etched to create rich, velvety textures. The second state likely refines earlier proofs, with enhanced details in the figure's contours and background. At modest dimensions (plate: 3⅜ × 8⅛ in.), it made the image accessible beyond elite salons, democratizing his revolutionary vision. Housed in the Metropolitan Museum of Art's Drawings and Prints department, this piece from The Elisha Whittelsey Collection highlights Manet's bridge between painting and print, influencing Impressionism and modern art. Visitors, imagine the buzz it sparked—*Olympia* wasn't just art; it redefined gaze, race, and sexuality in 19th-century France.

About the Artist

Edouard Manet · 1832–1883

Édouard Manet (1832-1883) was a French painter who played a pivotal role in the transition from Realism to Impressionism, often called the 'Father of Modern Art.' Born into a wealthy Parisian family, Manet defied his father's wishes for a legal career to pursue painting, studying under academic artist Thomas Couture. His revolutionary works 'Le Déjeuner sur l'herbe' and 'Olympia' (both 1863) scand...