Answer:
Édouard Manet's "Olympia" (1863) was considered a shocking painting at the time for several reasons, both visual and cultural. Visually, the painting broke with traditional representations of the female form in art, as Manet depicted a woman lying provocatively on a bed, with a confrontational gaze and a boldly exposed body. The subject matter was also highly controversial, as Olympia was a notorious Parisian courtesan, which challenged the traditional idealized depictions of women in art.
In addition to the visual aspects, the cultural context of the time also contributed to the controversy surrounding "Olympia." The painting was created during a time of great social and cultural change in France, with the rise of the modern city and the increasing visibility of prostitution and sexuality. The subject matter and style of "Olympia" challenged the traditional values and morality of the time, leading to criticism and controversy when it was first displayed at the 1865 Paris Salon.
Overall, "Olympia" was considered a shocking painting due to its departure from traditional artistic conventions and its bold representation of a controversial subject matter, both visually and culturally.