Nudity in Painting

Nudity, historically in art was tolerated and widely considered to be an accepted aesthetic practice. Nudity was a key feature in Mythological and History painting. However, once paintings started to portray women as naked, as was the case in Manet's Olympia (1863); this was deemed by society to be unacceptable. Despite, there being no difference in the level and amount of skin on display, it was the manner in which the female figures were depicted that was a cause for social concern.