Bathers, Plate III 1928

"Bathers, Plate III" is a 1928 etching by British artist Harold Weston (1894-1972). The print depicts two figures, rendered in stark black silhouettes, submerged in a shallow body of water. The figures’ forms are simplified, suggestive of a more generalized human form, and the background is filled with swirling lines that resemble waves. The stark contrast between the black and white of the print further contributes to the sense of abstraction and a strong sense of movement. The work is a compelling example of Weston’s use of etching to explore the human form in relation to its environment, and is a significant piece of British modernist printmaking.