The Bath 1889 - 1890

Georges-William Thornley created this drawing called "The Bath," and it's now held at the Art Institute of Chicago. This artwork offers insight into the social and cultural context of its time. Images of bathing or washing may seem intimate to us, but we should consider how the role of the artist affects these images. Who has the right to look, and what is the point of looking at a bather? The art institutions have the right to collect and display such images to the public. This etching may also reference a classical style of art, perhaps a Greek or Roman style of bathing. The artist is making a comment on the history of art. A historian might look at how the art market and the institutions of art have changed over time.