Badende vrouwen 1794 - 1851

This print, "Badende vrouwen," was made by Antonio de Pian, an artist born in Venice, Italy in 1784. De Pian produced this print in a European society still wrestling with the values of the Enlightenment. Here, De Pian presents us with an idealized vision of women in leisure, set against the backdrop of classical architecture. The scene evokes a sense of timelessness, yet these women –white, nude, and unburdened – existed in stark contrast to most women of the era. While these women appear untethered to the mundane, their representation is tethered to societal power dynamics. Think about whose stories were excluded to create this scene of leisure, and how this exclusion is part of the art's historical and cultural context. Consider the implications of presenting an image of female nudity that is devoid of any sense of individual identity, and how such images have shaped perceptions of women. While beautiful, this print is also a potent reminder of the selective lens through which history is often portrayed.