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Lesson Plans


Re: Manet's Olympia

From: Larry Seiler (lseiler@ez-net.com)
Date: Sun Jan 30 2000 - 08:02:52 PST

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    Subject: Re: Manet's Olympia

    I did. Why were the older nudes by Titian and Gorgione OK and not
    considered
    shocking by their societies? Some of them were in almost the same pose. I

    did enjoy the show. Vita
    <snip>

    They were still idealized forms. By making idealized forms, it made it
    "other worldly" and didn't have to touch close to home. By using a
    commoner courtesan or prostitute, it touched a nerve. An idealized form
    does not necessary bring up reminderances of nights stolen away from being
    at home with the wife to lay with a courtesan. It may appeal to the
    "ideal" woman and initiate hormonal imaginings that are a delight to
    ponder. No sense of guilt attached with an image that none had the
    pleasure of even remotely performing illicit acts.

    The commoner courtesan perhaps pricked the conscience, perhaps especially
    if the "wifey" were holding on to one's arm sharing words of equal disdain
    for the painting!

    Think of how painting elevates a thing as being worthy. As a painting.
    The product of talent, the object of time spent. As that approved by
    members of the salon. A sense of worthiness. Courtesans were "used" were
    "spent" and when their made-up prettiness in low lights could no longer
    hide the years of such abuse, they were disgarded and cast out. Perhaps
    this also pricked the conscience of those that had desecrated the last of
    what could have been beautiful in a lady of the evening. Titian's
    idealized forms would not have brought such conviction.

    Larry Seiler 

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