A Sleeping Bather 

Henri Gervex made this painting, A Sleeping Bather, with oil on canvas. Its smooth surface, achieved through layers of thin glazes, is characteristic of academic painting. Consider how the artist has used these materials to create a sense of volume and texture, from the cool smoothness of the rock to the soft skin of the bather. The human figure is modeled by a painterly, almost sculptural approach, that was the hallmark of French art training at the time. The social significance of a painting like this lies in its ambition, even while it is seemingly just a glimpse of a nude in nature. The academic tradition was about display, about showing off your skills, particularly when representing the human form, and it was still the mark of a serious painter in the 19th century. Ultimately, it's the skill of the artist in handling these materials, in combination with the cultural significance of the subject matter, that elevates this work. The artistic labor embedded in its making invites us to reconsider the divisions between craft and fine art.