Olympia (published plate)

Olympia (published plate) by Édouard Manet French, 1832-1883, is a significant print created in 1867. This work, classified as an original impression, replicates the composition of Manet’s famously controversial 1863 oil painting. The print medium chosen was etching and aquatint, executed in black ink on cream laid paper. By combining the linear precision of etching with the subtle tonal areas provided by aquatint, Manet was able to effectively translate the high-contrast dynamism and flat forms of his painting into a reproducible graphic format.

Created in France four years after the original canvas caused widespread public outrage at the Salon, this print helped cement the artist’s reputation as a key figure of the avant-garde who challenged academic norms. The piece portrays a self-possessed nude courtesan, whose confrontational, modern gaze and surrounding accouterments shattered traditional expectations for mythological or allegorical nudity. The work functions as a potent commentary on contemporary social practices and the commercialization of the female form in 19th-century Paris.

While the 1863 oil painting remains a canonical cornerstone of Modernism, the production of these high-quality prints allowed the artist, 1832-1883, to disseminate the radical image of Olympia widely, engaging directly with the public discourse of his era. This impression is a crucial example of how the painter utilized reproductive media to address contemporary artistic and societal concerns. The piece currently resides in the esteemed collection of the Art Institute of Chicago, providing scholars and the public access to key examples of 19th-century French graphic arts. Like many works of historical significance, this image is frequently made available through public domain initiatives for educational use.