Getting Out of the Bath 1889 - 1890

"Getting Out of the Bath" is a print by Georges-William Thornley held at the Art Institute of Chicago. It offers us a glimpse into late 19th-century attitudes towards the female form. The image presents a woman in a private moment, yet made public. She is caught between the act of bathing and emerging, her body rendered with delicate lines. In a society shaped by strict gender roles, such depictions were complex. On one hand, they could perpetuate the objectification of women, aligning with the male gaze prevalent in art history. On the other, they held the potential to explore female identity and experience from a more intimate perspective. The woman seems caught in a moment of transition, not quite in nor out, symbolizing the shifting boundaries of women's roles in society. The work invites us to contemplate the tension between vulnerability and autonomy, as the bather prepares to face the world anew.