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Chủ Nhật, 18 tháng 12, 2016

Reasons Why The Oil Painting Olympia By Manet Is Revolutionary

By Timothy Moore


Art remains to be great way for humankind to record events and give different generations and civilizations a picture of what their culture and era was like. Visual representation has been a method that humans have been using throughout millennia. A notable thing is the different techniques that they use despite current technology.

The Renaissance was probably one of the most technically evolved eras when it came to art and realism. Artist aimed to capture the beaut of reality while combining it with the divine. This was evident in the subject that they chose which revolved around myth, religion and history. But on piece that challenge conventions was the oil painting Olympia by Manet.

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.

The woman on the canvas was not Venus, but a parodied symbolism named Olympia. Based on what she was wearing, slippers and a black choker, this tells you that she is a courtesan. The most ironic thing you can use to portray a goddess would be a prostitute. Maybe even then people thought the concept was offensive and sacrilegious.

Manet probably was not doing this for shock value. Notice that this is no ordinary prostitute since she has a servant handing her some flowers. The flowers look like they came from a suitor or a patron. Nudes then of goddesses and historical figures were not vulgar, but rather, coy. This one, in particular, was a great exception at the time.

The woman on the painting stares at you point blank which was a huge statement if you compare it to the Venus equivalent. It was as if Manet meant the asymmetry of her face to say that no female face is symmetrical and as perfect as a goddess and that is still worthy of making into art.

The rawness and honesty was not welcomed by the its viewers, although its revolutionary nature made the piece an obra maestra. The painter wanted to make sure that there is little visual depth to really emphasize to its viewers that this was artwork and not something you use to blur the lines between what is real and imagination.

This painting effectively became something revolutionary and is a genius way to cross abstraction with traditional realism. Then it would have been considered as a bad painting. But it is general understanding that if the piece is able to evoke emotion. It can never be considered as bad art.

Just like anything unconventional, Olympia was met with jeers, laughter and so much criticism. Manet was as much a painter as he was a revolutionist. His honesty regarding aesthetic and his personal interpretation of beauty was bold and this shook the art community of 1865 France. This artworks is one of many pieces reminding people that a single act of revolt as non violent as an image on a canvas can turn the world.




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