LARGE BATHERS (1889) by PAUL CÉZANNE
CÉZANNE’S inspiration for LARGE BATHERS was based on historical art trends and his own ideas, rather than relying on natural observation.
He had a book called 'LE NU AU LOUVRE' which had all sorts of photos of nudes from ancient GREECE to MODERN TIMES. It was a great source for him, especially since he was particularly interested in photos of sculptures.
Another common feature of CÉZANNE’S paintings of women bathers are their triangular shapes. For example, in her LARGE BATHERS series, the bathers are divided into two triangular groups. Surrounded by trees and leaves, these groups form pyramids.
LARGE BATHERS is also different from the usual depictions of nudes in landscape, as CÉZANNE’S depictions of nudes lack the eroticism and sensuality associated with the theme.
This painting illustrates CÉZANNE’S contemporary interpretation of a classic motif, particularly his depiction of the human form: CÉZANNE paints the nude female figures in the same manner as he does landscapes.
CÉZANNE’S depictions of bathers are characterized by their coarse and inelegant appearance, with their limbs entwined together in a peculiar manner.
Different interpretations of the artwork have been presented by scholars; some have focused on the way in which the large bathers illustrate a new style of painting, emphasizing form and colour rather than anatomical precision. Others have suggested that the stripped-down nudes are a reflection of CÉZANNE’S fear of women.