Study for "Greek Girls Bathing" c. 1872

Elihu Vedder's "Study for 'Greek Girls Bathing'" is a preparatory sketch for a larger work. Created in 1872, the study features three figures, likely women, clothed in loose garments, standing close together. The sketch is executed in brown washes on paper and is characteristic of Vedder's use of classical subjects and a stylized, almost sculptural, approach to the human form. This small-scale drawing, measuring only 9.53 × 12.86 cm, provides a glimpse into Vedder's creative process and his interest in the female form.