---
title: Olympia by Manet
author: Musée d'Orsay
source: https://www.worldhistory.org/image/15389/olympia-by-manet/
format: machine-readable-alternate
updated: 1970-01-01
---

# Olympia by Manet

_Authored by Musée d'Orsay_

## Image File

[![Olympia by Manet](https://www.worldhistory.org/uploads/images/15389.png)](https://www.worldhistory.org/uploads/images/15389.png)

## Image Caption

The 1863 oil on canvas painting, *[Olympia](https://www.worldhistory.org/Olympia/)*, by [Edouard Manet](https://www.worldhistory.org/Edouard_Manet/) (1832-83), the French modernist painter. The painting was exhibited in the 1865 Salon in [Paris](https://www.worldhistory.org/disambiguation/paris/) and shocked the art world for its presentation of a contemporary courtesan fully nude and with an unabashed stare. Her nudity is accentuated by the black choker while the black cat was a known symbol of desire. The figure is Manet’s long-time model Victorine Meurent. Manet employs several innovations: he uses unusual colours, the two figures seem to move towards the viewer, and the composition is given a certain flatness. (Musée d'Orsay, Paris)

## Cite This Work

### APA
d'Orsay, M. (2022, March 11). Olympia by Manet. *World History Encyclopedia*. <https://www.worldhistory.org/image/15389/olympia-by-manet/>
### Chicago
d'Orsay, Musée. "Olympia by Manet." *World History Encyclopedia*, March 11, 2022. <https://www.worldhistory.org/image/15389/olympia-by-manet/>.
### MLA
d'Orsay, Musée. "Olympia by Manet." *World History Encyclopedia*, 11 Mar 2022, <https://www.worldhistory.org/image/15389/olympia-by-manet/>.

## License & Copyright

[Original image](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Edouard_Manet_-_Olympia_-_Google_Art_ProjectFXD.jpg) by [**Musée d'Orsay**](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Edouard_Manet_-_Olympia_-_Google_Art_ProjectFXD.jpg). Submitted by [Mark Cartwright](https://www.worldhistory.org/user/markzcartwright/ "User Page: Mark Cartwright"), published on 11 March 2022. The copyright holder has published this content under the following license: [Public Domain](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Public_domain). This item is in the public domain, and can be used, copied, and modified without any restrictions. Please note that content linked from this page may have different licensing terms.