Édouard Manet’s ground-breaking Olympia (1863) is often cited as a key work in the birth of modern art. His portrayal of a naked prostitute who unashamedly meets the viewer’s eye confronted Parisians with a reality they would have preferred not to acknowledge; that sex for money was a quintessential part of modern life – and one that was not confined to the elegant, and exclusive, courtesan.
To read more on the BBC:
http://www.bbc.com/culture/story/20190320-how-art-history-erased-black-people
You may also like to read:
* BBC Pidgin headline of the year, Brit teaches African how to throw poo poo
* South Africa funeral firm to sue pastor for 'resurrection stunt'
* Zangbeto Voodoo festival shows strength of traditions