Bather with Cigarette 1924

"Bather with Cigarette" is a 1924 oil painting by the Japanese-American artist Yasuo Kuniyoshi. The painting features a woman in a red bathing suit, with her hand resting on her hip and her other hand holding a cigarette. The woman is rendered in a simplified, almost cartoonish style, with thick outlines and bold colors. Kuniyoshi's work often dealt with themes of American popular culture and everyday life, and "Bather with Cigarette" exemplifies this approach. The painting captures a moment of leisure and casualness, a feeling that is further enhanced by the woman's relaxed posture. While the painting is certainly stylized, Kuniyoshi's bold use of color and playful, almost surreal composition contributes to its lasting appeal.