Explain whether you think Manet’s Olympia was meant to shock the viewers of his time and why....

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Explain whether you think Manet’s Olympia was meant to shock the viewers of his time and why. Explain whether the painting would have a similar impact on viewers today.

David · Accepted Answer

Explain whether you think Manet’s Olympia was meant to shock the viewers of his time 
and why. Explain whether the painting would have a similar impact on viewers today.  
Manet’s Olympia was shocking for the viewers of his time due to its depiction of a nude woman 
as the central character. The nude woman’s rebellious look shocked the viewers of the concerned 
period. Myriads of critics of the period considered it as a painting lacking any morale and 
exploiting the female virtue. Portrayal of a nude woman as a subject of art was not considered to 
be appropriate in the period where Manet belonged and hence, his Olympia proved to be a shock.  
In the 21st century the painting of Manet would not have been capable of rendering shock to the 
viewers. In the 21st century nudity is considered as a way of art and the theme can be found in 
myriads of paintings, movies, etc of this period and as the viewers of the 21st century are well 
acquainted with the theme of nudity, Manet’s Olympia would have been considered as a 
masterpiece rather than a disrespect of art.  
(161 words) 
Consider that while Chinese and Indian immigrants were arriving in the U.S., the British 
were arriving in China and India. Compare the concept of a 19th century global economy 
between Asia and the West to the 21st century global economy involving Asia and the West 
today.  
The 19th century world economy was dominated by the colonial powers and their monopoly on 
trading items.

Explain whether you think Manet’s Olympia was meant to shock the viewers of his time and why. Explain whether the painting would have a similar impact on viewers today.

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