Bather 1600 - 1615

This bronze statuette of a nude woman, known as "Bather," was created by Barthélemy Prieur, a French sculptor working in the late 16th and early 17th centuries. Prieur occupied a prominent position in society as the official sculptor to King Henry IV. The sculpture presents a conventional, idealized nude, a common trope within the European tradition. Yet, the figure's intimate gesture of pulling off a stocking invites a more nuanced reading. It's hard to ignore the inherent power dynamics related to the gaze, and how the female body has historically been presented for male consumption. While ostensibly classical in style, the sculpture offers a glimpse into the changing social mores of the French court, where displays of wealth and status often intertwined with representations of the human form. Prieur's "Bather" prompts us to reflect on the complex relationships between the artist, his patron, and the audience, while also considering the lived experience of women.