Nu au bord de l'eau 

Frank Eugene created "Nu au bord de l'eau," or "Nude by the Water," using the photogravure technique, at a time when photography was striving for recognition as fine art. As a founding member of the Photo-Secession movement, Eugene intentionally manipulated his negatives. He would scratch and etch them, and then apply gum bichromate, to give his photographs a painterly, artistic quality. Evoking the classical nude within a natural, pastoral setting, this image encapsulates the tensions between tradition and modernity. It also attempts to negotiate the male gaze with an idealized, and perhaps timeless, representation of female beauty. However, when we view this photograph through a contemporary lens, questions about the power dynamics inherent in such representations of women are inevitably raised. Who is this woman? What is her experience of being seen and captured in this way? "Nu au bord de l'eau" invites us to consider not only the aesthetic qualities of the image but also the broader social and ethical implications of representing the human form.