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Lot Essay
A reprise of the painting, now in the Museé d'Orsay, the current print is one of two graphic treatments of the subject produced by Manet in 1867, and was intended to illustrate Zola's brochure produced on the occasion of Manet's one man exhibition at the Pont d'Alma.
Initially inspired by a poem by Zacharie Astruc, La Fille des Iles, the image, based on similar compositions by Titian was a 'Succès de Scandale' when it was initially shown and Zola, among many of Manet's friends, rushed to defend it.
Manet's printmaking at this period was greatly enhanced by the professional advice and help of Felix Braquemond who was a master of technique, but who is now rather relegated to the sidelines of art history. Braquemond was experimenting with colour printing at the moment at which Manet was producing the various versions of 'the Olympia' and it is more than tempting to see Braquemond's involvement in the inking of this particular impression. Although there is an impression in the Moreau-Nelaton collection in the Bibliotècque Nationale recorded by the collector as '1er état retouché par Manet, cette épreuve m'a été offerte par Braquemond', this appears to be a unique colour version of the subject.
Initially inspired by a poem by Zacharie Astruc, La Fille des Iles, the image, based on similar compositions by Titian was a 'Succès de Scandale' when it was initially shown and Zola, among many of Manet's friends, rushed to defend it.
Manet's printmaking at this period was greatly enhanced by the professional advice and help of Felix Braquemond who was a master of technique, but who is now rather relegated to the sidelines of art history. Braquemond was experimenting with colour printing at the moment at which Manet was producing the various versions of 'the Olympia' and it is more than tempting to see Braquemond's involvement in the inking of this particular impression. Although there is an impression in the Moreau-Nelaton collection in the Bibliotècque Nationale recorded by the collector as '1er état retouché par Manet, cette épreuve m'a été offerte par Braquemond', this appears to be a unique colour version of the subject.