Nantucket, from the Fancy Bathers series (N187) issued by Wm. S. Kimball & Co. 1889

"Nantucket, from the Fancy Bathers series" was produced as a lithograph by the Wm. S. Kimball & Co. The image presents a woman at the beach, an idyllic scene that speaks to the rise of leisure culture, but also to the changing representations of women's bodies in the public sphere. What does it mean for women to be seen and to see themselves in this context? The "Fancy Bathers" series was created and distributed during a period of increasing industrialization, urbanization, and shifting social norms. It invites us to consider how the simple image of a woman in swimwear can be a focal point for debates around gender roles, class distinctions, and the commodification of the body. How does the image engage with the period’s ideals of femininity and beauty? Does the artwork challenge or reinforce the period’s expectations?