There's definitely something sad about this, but the way she
stares directly at the viewer is very challenging. It would, after all, have been the people viewing this painting who would have visited 'Olympia' and encouraged this situation. If she is immoral then her audience are no better.

Julia, London,

A 'staged' photo could not equal this picture. That is a part of what painting pictures is all about [Hockney].

Mark Macklam, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada

It's no more immoral/vulgar than life itself is.

Patrick Frank, Monterey Calif., USA

Manet's 'Olympia' anticipates a selected scenario from John Fowles' 'Mantissa' by some 119 years. As you read that novel. indeed, you would do well to have a bookmark with a miniature image of Manet's work imprinted on it.

Peter Yates, Leeds, England

The sad, empty, vacant look of a soul who sells her body for favors and 'social betterment.' This portrait shows the vanity and dangers of immoral or amoral behavior.
It's a classic.

Lenben, Phoenix, United States

At the most Manet's Olympia it is just one of the many nude portraits, reclining nudes at that. So to single one out is wrong. Since it is a piece of art no different then the rest it is not vulgar.

Sean Makarin, Port Orchard, United States

She looks sad and used. The flowers do nothing to cheer her. Her overt pose is brazen, but her hand over her groin and the crossing of her ankles suggests she is actually uncomfortable with herself. I think the painting shows an unhappy woman whom Manet creates beautifully.

Felicity, Aylesbury, UK

I find it a disturbing and conflicting painting, and thus interesting. Her nudity invites to look at her and desire her, but her face and posture wants to show her superiority of aristocrat. She seems to say "I know what you want, come here to get it", but if you go you are screwed man.

Mario, Sao Paulo, Brazil

It was my grandma's mom, and she was very, very young. 9 or 10 y.o.

Elen, London, UK

The painting is disturbing, not because of the nudity, but the figure of the servant who is almost invisible, merging with the background, gives it another dimension.

Carl MacDougall, Glasgow, Scotland

I can't say that I'm a huge fan of "Olympia" because there is something disturbing about the nudity in the painting and the woman's gaze. I won't say it's immoral and vulgar though because if you know anything about Manet and the time in which he painted, you understand why he painted this picture.

Maliha Aqeel, Dubai, UAE

Exquisite. I had a framed poster of this painting in my room in Paris while attending university .Others had the usual ... but this seemed to me at once more sensual, more alluring, than any automobile or rock and roll star. And not too bad at demonstrating my sense of taste to women, either

Brett, Boston , USA

Immoral to depict the reality? France in the 1860s was Napoleon III's imperial dictatorship where human rights equaled zero.
Further more, Manet was clearly influenced by the evolving impressionism (Monet, Renoir, Pissaro et. al), that was loved for it's unsentimentality.

Christian Halsted, Copenhagen, Denmark