Although the two paintings, Olympia and Venus of Urbino, have many similar interests, they also have many differences. In both paintings we see two naked women sitting on their bed. In Olympia you can see the woman, with a black servant and a cat staring into the unknown, while in the Venus of Urbina you see the woman and another woman in the distance. Although they are both similar in this sense, they have different meanings. Say no to plagiarism. Get a tailor-made essay on "Why Violent Video Games Shouldn't Be Banned"? Get an original essay In Olympia, the painting caused riots due to the acts of prostitution that occurred during this period. The woman is served hand and foot by the male servant. In the painting you can see the servant waiting with his hands and feet, while giving her flowers. The woman, however, does not show any kind of interest. This may lead viewers to believe that the woman is used to receiving a shower of gifts. Manet, the painter, was much despised for her work on this painting. Not only did he use a sore subject from this time period. He also did not use the ideal woman in this painting. The ideal woman should have beautiful, vibrant skin. Their structure would be the perfect shape, neither too high nor too low. He would have a beautiful smile. However the woman in the photo doesn't show it. Rather the woman shown has pale skin and a commodity body. The contrast of the painting is between light and dark. The woman and the sheets are light and blend together, by contrast the rest of the background is dark. The fact that the woman is "front" shows that the woman is not ashamed. It shows that she has confidence in herself, which many women during this time did not have due to the high expectations they had regarding their appearance. In the Venus of Urbino, we also look at a naked woman, but this one has a different tone. The main purpose of this painting is to remind and allow visualization of what women expected during this time period from their husbands. The woman in this painting is a representation of the goddess of love. We are also looking at the contrast between the light and dark of the painting, as well as the fact that the woman is looking directly at us, which makes Venus stand out once again. In the background, you notice a child looking around in what appears to be a chest of toys, and the maid or servant looks at her. Dogs, for most people, symbolize loyalty. So to me, when I see the woman lying in bed with her dog at her feet, it makes me think of the loyalty that should be at the heart of marriage. Without loyalty, marriage is not worth it. Red roses, in today's world, signify beauty, purity and the meaning of what love should be. So his holding the red roses is just that. These are two very important main points, because they symbolize what true love is. True love is not to be taken lightly. In the background while looking at the maid looking at the little baby means motherhood. A mother always takes care of the child, even if the child is no longer in her sight. This is part of what a mother does: watch over and protect her children, no matter the cost or situation. Please note: this is just an example. Get a custom paper from our expert writers now. Customize essayTo summarize, as you can see, although the paintings themselves are both very different, they are not the same. Both represent the brands that have followed one another over the centuries. The woman watching shows the power and dignity that women possess.