Le Dejuener Sur L'Herbe by Edouard Manet

In my opinion, this painting represents how times are changing and depicts how the classical view of art can become controversial and be interpreted in different ways.The nude woman in the painting stands out not just from the contrast in colors but also the way she is posed and the fact that the men are well dressed while she looks like a model, posed possibly for the purpose of seduction. It may hint at the idea of prostitution or perhaps she represents art in its simplistic and pure style. She may represent the beauty of art in its primary form conveyed through perfection and smoothness of the subject. However, others may lean towards the other side of the debate agreeing that Manet refused to conform to conventions and strayed away from traditional representation. The idea of a nude woman in a modern setting threw off many established conventions. The painting among others is considered the initiation of Modern Art.