Hans Zatzka’s “Women on the Lakeside” presents us with an idyllic scene seemingly removed from the tumultuous times of its creation. Zatzka was painting in Austria during a period marked by the decline of the Austro-Hungarian Empire and the rise of modernism. The artwork depicts three women in classical dress at leisure, evoking a sense of timeless beauty. Their poses and attire, reminiscent of ancient goddesses, suggest a longing for a romanticized past. The figures are fair-skinned, aligning with the era’s aesthetic preferences and social hierarchies that often privileged whiteness. Yet, this beauty is perhaps a refuge from, or an unconscious commentary on, the societal changes of the time. Zatzka seems to offer a vision of feminine grace and tranquility, a stark contrast to the anxieties of a rapidly changing world. The painting invites us to consider the ways in which artists negotiate personal and collective identities, and how these are expressed through art.