Untitled (Study for 'Bathers') 

Childe Hassam made this undated oil on canvas titled 'Untitled (Study for 'Bathers')'. It gives us a glimpse into the late 19th century's fascination with depicting the female nude in natural settings. Hassam, working within the Impressionist movement, often portrayed women as objects of leisure and beauty. This work must be considered within a complex history of the male gaze and the objectification of women in art. The women are presented in a way that maintains a traditional representation of femininity, idealized and somewhat removed from the realities of women's lives during this time. Consider this work in the context of debates about women's rights and roles in society that were emerging at the time. Hassam's work, while seemingly innocent, participates in the construction of gendered identities and the reinforcement of societal norms. Yet, there is a sense of freedom and a celebration of the female form, even within the constraints of its historical context.