A 21st Century Olympia

In 1863, Manet exhibited his "Olympia" in Paris, and caused a scandal.  Instead of the coy, sentimentalized Venus figure of tradition, he chose to portray a contemporary flesh and blood woman, staring uncompromisingly out of the canvas at the viewer.

The modern museum-goer has long been inured to the realistic portrayal of the female nude, but still has a way to go with the nude male.


Here is my contribution to the evolution of the form.  The model stares out without apology or artifice; he is what he is.