Olympia

By Rmn-Grand Palais

RMN-Grand Palais

Olympia (19th Century) by Edouard Manet (1832-1883) and Paris, musée d'OrsayOriginal Source: Paris, musée d'Orsay

This young woman, completely naked and exposed for all to see, assertively looks out at the onlooker with an almost defiant expression that caused a scandal in its time.

A servant stares at the young woman suggestively, bringing her a bouquet—perhaps a gift from an admirer, or even a client.

The little cat with a green sharp glance, a perked tail, is often perceived as an erotic allusion that reinforces the licentious atmosphere of the scene.

Credits: Story

We would like to thank:
- For design, illustrations, writing, and coordination of the RMN-Grand Palais project: Cécile Maisonneuve (Doctor of Art History, Policy Officer, Scientific Council), Nathalie Gathelier (National Museums Speaker), Annie Madec (Iconographer), Françoise Lombardi-Peissel (Project Manager) at RMN-Grand Palais.
- For reproductions: French museum collections represented by the Photo Agency of the Réunion des musées nationaux-Grand Palais:
Montpellier, Musée Fabre; Versailles, Musée Lambinet; Lille, Palais des Beaux-Arts; Paris, The Louvre; Paris, Centre Pompidou (Musée National d'Art Moderne - Centre de Création Industrielle).

Credits: All media
The story featured may in some cases have been created by an independent third party and may not always represent the views of the institutions, listed below, who have supplied the content.
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