The Shower 1894

This is Félix Edouard Vallotton’s 1894 woodcut, "The Shower," now at the Art Institute of Chicago. Look closely and you will see the motif of hurried figures under the cover of umbrellas, each a little island of self amidst the downpour. This motif echoes across time, reminiscent of Bruegel's snow scenes where figures huddle for warmth. What Vallotton captures is the flâneur in extremis. Instead of a leisurely stroll, we witness a retreat, a battle against the elements. The umbrella, usually a mere accessory, becomes a shield, a symbol of the individual's struggle against nature's caprice. Consider how this image resonates with our own experiences. The anonymity, the collective urgency, it taps into something primal, a shared memory of vulnerability. It reappears constantly. Each iteration carries echoes of the past, overlaid with the anxieties of the present. Vallotton's shower is not just water; it's a deluge of sensations, fears, and collective memories, forever cycling through our cultural consciousness.