Olympia

by Edouard Manet

       Olympia is important for its flat, one dimension representation in an era when flatness wasn't overly appreciated.  The painting is reminiscent of  Jacques Louis David's Madame Recamier painted earlier in the century.  There is a huge difference in the types of ladies depicted, however, as well as the painting style.  Madame Recamier is reclining on her chaise lounge, probably awaiting  for someone to deliver her a bon mot.  Manet's Olympia is lying on a bed awaiting a paying gentleman caller.  There is also a bit of Goya's Naked Maja in the Olympia.  All the paintings have in common the reclining women (one dressed, the others not) on a sofa or bed in very studied poses.  The artistic styles have nothing in common except all of the paintings are worthy of the best 100 list of Art Works.

Review posted by: Vincent

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