French artist Georges Seurat created this painting when he was only twenty-four years old. Seurat submitted the work to the Salon, but it was rejected by the jurors. Nevertheless, Bathers at Asnières became one of Seurat’s masterpieces, though did not gain appreciation until many years later after his death at the age of thirty-one.
In this painting, we see a pristine blue river with a couple of bathers in it. The Seine River is one of the most famous rivers in Europe, though it has been unsafe for swimming due to industrial pollution since at least the early 20th century. Now, the city of Paris wants to clean it up enough to allow people to swim in some sections by 2024, the year the city is slated to host the next summer Olympic Games.
Perhaps, we might be able to see scenes like Seurat’s painting again one day.
Bathers at Asnières
Seurat, Georges, 1859-1891, French [artist]
Oil on canvas
201 x 300 cm.
French
1883-1884
Repository: National Gallery (Great Britain), London, England 3908
HOLLIS number: olvwork14602