Women on the Lakeside 

Hans Zatzka’s “Women on the Lakeside” presents us with an idyllic scene seemingly removed from the tumultuous times of its creation. Zatzka was painting in Austria during a period marked by the decline of the Austro-Hungarian Empire and the rise of modernism. The artwork depicts three women in classical dress at leisure, evoking a sense of timeless beauty. Their poses and attire, reminiscent of ancient goddesses, suggest a longing for a romanticized past. The figures are fair-skinned, aligning with the era’s aesthetic preferences and social hierarchies that often privileged whiteness. Yet, this beauty is perhaps a refuge from, or an unconscious commentary on, the societal changes of the time. Zatzka seems to offer a vision of feminine grace and tranquility, a stark contrast to the anxieties of a rapidly changing world. The painting invites us to consider the ways in which artists negotiate personal and collective identities, and how these are expressed through art.