Georgica Beach 

Nigel Van Wieck painted "Georgica Beach" sometime in the 20th century. This serene scene captures a moment of leisure, yet it subtly engages with themes of class, labor, and the body. The lifeguard, perched high above the sunbathers, embodies a position of authority, a stark contrast to the vulnerable bodies displayed on the sand. The lifeguard tower itself becomes a symbol of social hierarchy. Who has the privilege to relax, and who is tasked with watching over them? The figures on the beach are presented as objects of leisure, their identities somewhat obscured, emphasizing the act of sunbathing as a performance of middle-class leisure. Van Wieck doesn't seem to be making any overt political statement, but the painting quietly highlights the dynamics of observation and power, inviting us to reflect on the social codes embedded within seemingly innocent scenes of recreation.