The Small Bathers 1896 - 1897

Editor: This is "The Small Bathers" by Paul Cézanne. The figures are nude in a landscape, and the colors feel muted, but the forms are sturdy. How do you read this scene? Curator: These bathers emerge from a lineage of idealized, often heteronormative, depictions of the nude. What is absent, however, is the male gaze. Cézanne seems to be asking us to reconsider how we’ve been taught to view the human form, especially in relation to nature. Do you find that the rough edges add to this re-interpretation? Editor: That's fascinating, yes! The lack of polish definitely disrupts any sense of classical perfection. I see it now. Thanks! Curator: Indeed. It seems we are both finding new ways to interrogate these established artistic traditions.