Olympia (small plate) 1867

Edouard Manet made this small plate etching, titled Olympia, in the 19th century, a period marked by significant social change and evolving ideas about identity. Manet challenges traditional representations of women, gender, and race in art. A nude woman, Olympia, boldly meets the viewer's gaze. Her directness and the presence of a Black maid disrupt conventional depictions of passive female subjects. Instead, we confront a scene charged with the complexities of class, race, and female sexuality. The historical context of 19th-century Paris is crucial here. France was grappling with issues of colonialism, class division, and evolving gender roles. Manet's choice to portray a sex worker and a Black servant forces us to confront uncomfortable truths about power dynamics. What feelings arise when we consider the lives of these women? How did their identities shape and constrain their experiences? Olympia invites us to question the conventional narratives of the time and to reflect on the ongoing struggle for equality and recognition.