Olympia of sprinkles - after the painting 'Olympia' by Edouard Manet - art print illustration with sprinkles by Irene Cecile

About "Olympia of sprinkles - after the painting 'Olympia' by Edouard Manet - art print illustration with sprinkles"

by Irene Cecile

About the artwork

Reproduction with sprinkles of "Olympia" by Edouard Manet (oil on canvas, 130 × 190 cm, 1863).

Very patiently selecting the perfect (pure) sprinkles, and then laying them down just right with tweezers. To create a reproduction of 'Olympia' by Edouard Manet.

Edouard Manet's painting 'Le déjeuner sur l'herbe' had already caused controversy in 1863, but when 'Olympia' was exhibited for the first time, a real riot ensued. Conservatives called the work "immoral" and "vulgar".
Proponent Émile Zola, however, declared that it was Manet's "masterpiece".

What particularly shocked Manet's contemporaries was not so much Olympia's nudity, nor the presence of a fully clothed maid, but her confrontational gaze and a number of details that betray that she is a courtesan. The orchid in her hair, her bracelet, the pearl earrings and the oriental scarf on which she lies indicate opulence and sensuality. The black ribbon around her neck, in stark contrast to her pale skin, and her cast-off slippers emphasise the sexually charged mood. In addition, Olympia's hand is firmly pressed against her sex. It seems as if she wants to emphasise her independence and sexual dominance over men. The black cat symbolises prostitution. Olympia haughtily ignores the flowers offered by the maid, probably a gift from a client.

(Text adapted from wikipedia.)