Luncheon on the Grass
Manet
1862-1863
Oil on canvas

The image of a nude woman sitting with fully clothed men was controversial at the time. The men seem to be in conversation, ignoring the woman. The woman in the background is bathing herself in a stream. There seems to be some disconnect and inconsistency with depth. The background seems to be very flat as though it was a staged background rather than a real, natural background. Because of this lack of depth, the woman almost appears to be floating above them, rather than in the distance. There are also few shadows displayed on the canvas which may indicate the use of artificial/ photographic lighting.