Édouard Manet’s 'Le Déjeuner sur l'herbe' (Luncheon on the Grass) caused a massive scandal when it was exhibited at the Salon des Refusés in 1863. The painting depicts a nude woman picnicking with two fully dressed men in a contemporary setting. While nudity was common in art, it was usually reserved for mythological or historical subjects. By placing a nude woman in a modern Parisian park, Manet challenged the moral and artistic standards of the time. Furthermore, the painting's style—featuring flat lighting and visible brushstrokes—rejected the polished, 'perfect' finish required by the French Academy. This work is now seen as a pivotal moment in the transition from Realism to Impressionism. Manet’s refusal to conform to academic rules paved the way for modern art, asserting that the artist's role was to capture contemporary life rather than idealized fantasies.