Bathers Under a Bridge (recto); Study after Houdon's Ecorché (verso) 1894 - 1906

Paul Cézanne made this watercolor and graphite drawing, "Bathers Under a Bridge," in the late 19th century. During this time, rapid industrialization and urbanization were reshaping French society, leading artists to explore new ways of representing the human figure and its relationship to the environment. Cézanne, who often felt alienated from urban life, turned to the theme of bathers in nature, creating a space where figures could exist outside the constraints of modern society. The figures lack individualized features, blurring the lines between genders and social classes. The bodies are simplified, reduced to basic forms that blend seamlessly with the surrounding landscape. This emphasis on form and structure, rather than narrative, reflects a desire to move away from traditional academic painting. Cézanne once said, "I want to make of impressionism something solid and durable like the art in the museums." This piece invites us to reflect on how the human body can be both a site of identity and a vessel for universal experiences.