Whereas in Manet's Olympia the courtesan's patron is only implied, in Cézanne's A Modern Olympia the cortesain's patron is depicted within the scene.[2] The man's bald head, dark hair, full beard, and profile of the nose indicate that he is a self-portrait of Cézanne.[3]
The patron, the man on the couch,
The animal's red collar indicates that it is a dog, despite its cat-like appearance.[4]
History
Paul Cézanne painted A Modern Olympia in 1873 while living in
Auvers-sur-Oise. Cézanne had previously been introduced
Dr. Paul Gachet by his friend and fellow
ImpressionistCamille Pissarro. Dr. Gachet was a somewhat eccentric man and an amateur artist himself. He was interested in the new and revolutionary, and was also an admirer of Cézanne's paintings.[5] Cézanne's decision to paint a
homage to
Édouard Manet's 1863 painting Olympia supposedly came following a conversation with Dr. Gachet. During the conversation, Gachet complimented Manet's Olympia. An unimpressed Cézanne said "What? The Olympia?... I could do that sort of thing." To which Gachet replied, "Well, do it then."[6] Dr. Gachet bought the 1873 version of A Modern Olympia, and was reportedly present when it was painted.[7] It was the first painting that Cézanne ever sold.[5]
Dr. Gachet lent A Modern Olympia back to Cézanne for the
First Impressionist Exhibition in 1874.[8] Despite it's small size, Cézanne's A Modern Olympia was the subject of mockery and derision by critics and visitors more-so than any of the other paintings in the exhibition.[9]
In 1951, the heirs of Dr. Gachet donated A Modern Olympia, along with the paintings House of Dr Gachet and Delft Vase, to the
Louvre in Paris.[10]
Other versions
Paul Cézanne's earlier version of A Modern Olympia (The Pasha),
c. 1869–70
Cézanne had previously painted a another version of A Modern Olympia three years earlier in
c. 1869–70.[5] This earlier version is also known as The Pasha.[11]
Cézanne also created another homage to Manet's Olympia in
c. 1877.[12] This graphite and watercolor drawing is simply titled Olympia.
Copies by other artists
Several other copies of A Modern Olympia were made by contemporary artists.
Dr. Paul Gachet, the painting's first owner, made at least two copies of his own: one in pen and ink, and another in oil on canvas.[13] The artist Blanche Derousse, a pupil of Dr. Gachet,[14] also made two copies at Dr. Gachet's request: one in watercolor, and another in
drypoint.[13]
Gallery
Paul Cézanne, Olympia. Graphite and watercolor (
c. 1877)
Paul Gachet, Copy after Cézanne's A Modern Olympia. Oil on canvas (Date unknown)
Paul Gachet, Copy after Cézanne's A Modern Olympia. Pen and ink (Date unknown)
Blanche Derousse, Copy after Cézanne's A Modern Olympia. Watercolor (1901)
Blanche Derousse, Copy after Cézanne's A Modern Olympia. Drypoint (1907)
Whereas in Manet's Olympia the courtesan's patron is only implied, in Cézanne's A Modern Olympia the cortesain's patron is depicted within the scene.[2] The man's bald head, dark hair, full beard, and profile of the nose indicate that he is a self-portrait of Cézanne.[3]
The patron, the man on the couch,
The animal's red collar indicates that it is a dog, despite its cat-like appearance.[4]
History
Paul Cézanne painted A Modern Olympia in 1873 while living in
Auvers-sur-Oise. Cézanne had previously been introduced
Dr. Paul Gachet by his friend and fellow
ImpressionistCamille Pissarro. Dr. Gachet was a somewhat eccentric man and an amateur artist himself. He was interested in the new and revolutionary, and was also an admirer of Cézanne's paintings.[5] Cézanne's decision to paint a
homage to
Édouard Manet's 1863 painting Olympia supposedly came following a conversation with Dr. Gachet. During the conversation, Gachet complimented Manet's Olympia. An unimpressed Cézanne said "What? The Olympia?... I could do that sort of thing." To which Gachet replied, "Well, do it then."[6] Dr. Gachet bought the 1873 version of A Modern Olympia, and was reportedly present when it was painted.[7] It was the first painting that Cézanne ever sold.[5]
Dr. Gachet lent A Modern Olympia back to Cézanne for the
First Impressionist Exhibition in 1874.[8] Despite it's small size, Cézanne's A Modern Olympia was the subject of mockery and derision by critics and visitors more-so than any of the other paintings in the exhibition.[9]
In 1951, the heirs of Dr. Gachet donated A Modern Olympia, along with the paintings House of Dr Gachet and Delft Vase, to the
Louvre in Paris.[10]
Other versions
Paul Cézanne's earlier version of A Modern Olympia (The Pasha),
c. 1869–70
Cézanne had previously painted a another version of A Modern Olympia three years earlier in
c. 1869–70.[5] This earlier version is also known as The Pasha.[11]
Cézanne also created another homage to Manet's Olympia in
c. 1877.[12] This graphite and watercolor drawing is simply titled Olympia.
Copies by other artists
Several other copies of A Modern Olympia were made by contemporary artists.
Dr. Paul Gachet, the painting's first owner, made at least two copies of his own: one in pen and ink, and another in oil on canvas.[13] The artist Blanche Derousse, a pupil of Dr. Gachet,[14] also made two copies at Dr. Gachet's request: one in watercolor, and another in
drypoint.[13]
Gallery
Paul Cézanne, Olympia. Graphite and watercolor (
c. 1877)
Paul Gachet, Copy after Cézanne's A Modern Olympia. Oil on canvas (Date unknown)
Paul Gachet, Copy after Cézanne's A Modern Olympia. Pen and ink (Date unknown)
Blanche Derousse, Copy after Cézanne's A Modern Olympia. Watercolor (1901)
Blanche Derousse, Copy after Cézanne's A Modern Olympia. Drypoint (1907)