Olympia

A woman's sensuality and fearlessness in one image. As much as the painting 'Olympia' set an unimaginable shock to the contemporary art patrons then, it also scared them. The narrative around this painting was about a naked woman posing unfazed. Around that time people called prostitutes Olympia, that is how the narrative has portrayed this painting. Just a shameless subject, a painting without great political meaning in it. And people did believe that.

The white lady on the bed, with a beautiful orchid- representing her beauty and strength, pearl earrings and a gold bracelet signifying her purity and sophistication. She is aware, that she is being seen, noticed, and narrated. Her left hand gracefully covering her lower body while her legs being crossed shows her awareness. But she is not agitated. Her eyes stare right through the gawker. She is letting them know that they have no power over her charisma. The black cat on the bed is also aware of the gawker. It represents her fierce reaction. Its eyes are conscious, swollen, and dilated. Unlike her it is ready for an attack.

This power dynamics is highlighted by the black lady beside her. The irony of the black lady trying to hand flowers from an admirer and Olympia's ignorance to it. Desire and disdain. She is confused as to what Olympia is upto. This draws the contrast between two women. Both with different upbrings, different treatment in society, different ways of reacting to an improper encounter, but both with grace of the same kind. Proving that they are of the same kind- subjects. Not objects. This is beautifully explained by how the pale skin matches the staff's gown and the orchid matches the staff's earring. They are one in different forms.

When Olympia was treated as an object, she fights back with her stare, and this painting is a way for a community to demand their respect while merely existing. Existing unfazed is how Olympia won over the gawker, and through this painting it is said that any form of disrespect can be defeated by existing gracefully. The painting 'Olympia' was a war fought over from a silk bed, without any weapon but undeniable, alive, and raw existence.