Lecture Notes: Modern Interpretation of the Female Nude in Art

Introduction

• Tradition of Female Nude: Long history in art, represented erotically and sensuously.
  • References to mythology and sheer beauty.
  • Origins trace back to ancient Greeks and Romans.
  • Example: Venus sculptures modestly covering herself.

Manet's Radical Modern Approach

• Influence and Inspiration:

  • Manet was influenced by Titian's "Venus of Urbino."
  • Manet strips away academic technique and mythology.

• Academic Art:

  • Sanctioned by the official academy, associated with the government of France.
  • Formulaic, not challenging, had market value due to official endorsement.
  • Based on classical and renaissance traditions.

Manet's Olympia

• Difference from Venus:

  • Olympia is a real woman, not idealized like Venus.
  • Features are natural and asymmetrical.
  • Direct, confrontational gaze challenges traditional representations.

• Representation of Prostitution:

  • Recognized as a courtesan, higher-class prostitute.
  • Name "Olympia" associated with prostitutes in Paris.
  • Scene includes a servant handing Olympia flowers from a customer.

Depiction of Modern Life

• Inclusion of Diversity:

  • New scholarship highlights the inclusion of a black woman, Laure.
  • Represents modern, diverse Paris.
  • Laure's depiction defies exotic and ethnographic norms of the time.

• Manet's Artistic Style:

  • Static portrayal of Olympia, modern portrayal of Laure.
  • Manet uses modern clothing with Caribbean references.

Reaction and Criticism

• Vicious Press Reaction:

  • Criticism of Olympia's appearance, described as corpse-like.
  • Caricatures emphasized shadows, modeling considered inadequate.

• Manet's Artistic Intent:

  • Rejects traditional illusions of space and body.
  • Emphasizes two-dimensionality and authenticity of painting.
  • Challenges viewer's comfort by confronting gaze and acknowledging sexuality.

Conclusion

• Artistic Honesty:

  • Manet unmasks illusions in art and viewer's interests.
  • Painting about art conventions and honesty in representation.

• Legacy:

  • Responds to Charles Baudelaire's call for artists to depict modern life.
  • Invents modern beauty, challenging traditional norms.