Bathers (recto); Still Life (verso)
Original title: Bathers (recto); Still Life (verso)
kurzbeschreibung
A double-sided sheet by Paul Cézanne: the front holds a watercolor drawing over graphite with bathers, the back a pure watercolor still life. The front was made around 1890, the back about ten years later. The bathing figures are set in a natural environment, while on the other side flower- or leaf-like shapes gather into an arrangement. The sheet measures 21.1 x 27.2 cm.
Description
One figure sits on a rock, head bowed; nearby, other naked figures spread out in a horizontal row from left to right. A palette of blues dominates this area, making water and air feel cool. On the right, white and blue prevail, building a calm still life of flower- or leaf-like forms. The light stays diffuse, giving the colors a soft surface.
Context
This sheet belongs to Cézanne's later years, when he pushed both the bather motif and the still life. The front dates to around 1890, the back followed about a decade later—a sign that the artist kept the paper for a long time and used it again. Such double-sided sheets appear more often in his studio, as he worked with inexpensive materials.
Impact
The loose, flowing brushstrokes and restrained color give the sheet a floating quality. Cool blues and diffuse light create a quiet, inward mood that draws the viewer into the scene.
Technique
On the front, watercolor lies over graphite: the drawing provides the basic structure, and the color settles on top. The back is pure watercolor without a graphite underdrawing. The brushstrokes remain loose and flowing, characteristic of Cézanne's late watercolor technique.
AI-generated description text
Source: Metropolitan Museum of Art · Public Domain (CC0 1.0)