The artwork titled “Surprised Nymph” was created by Edouard Manet in 1861 in Paris, France. It is an oil-on-canvas masterpiece and belongs to the Realism art movement, specifically categorized under the genre of mythological painting. This artwork is housed in the Museo Nacional de Bellas Artes (MNBA) in Buenos Aires, Argentina.
The artwork portrays a mythological nymph, depicted in the nude and seated, emanating a sense of surprise, as suggested by her expression and the positioning of her hands covering her body. The background is rich and verdant, filled with deep greens and shadowy tones that contrast with the soft, luminous skin of the nymph. She is partially draped with a white cloth, which enhances the classical and serene quality of the scene. The striking realism in the depiction of the figure and the surrounding nature illustrate Manet’s mastery in capturing both human form and emotion within a mythological context.
