Rockaway, from the Beautiful Bathers series (N192) issued by Wm. S. Kimball & Co. 1889

This chromolithograph, "Rockaway, from the Beautiful Bathers series," was produced by William S. Kimball & Co. Here, the composition centers around a bather, her figure bent slightly forward as she stands at the water’s edge. The artist uses color and line to create distinct zones. Note the horizontal stripes of her bathing costume which are mirrored by the horizon line in the background, thus creating a visual echo. This draws our eye across the image, and horizontally organizes the composition. The palette, dominated by reds and greens, creates a complementary contrast, which enlivens the scene. The soft stippling effect blurs the boundaries between the figure and the environment. This effect destabilizes a clear distinction between the bather and the natural world. This aesthetic choice might echo contemporary philosophical interests, which explore the dissolving boundaries between the body and the landscape, suggesting an early engagement with ecological themes. While seemingly a simple advertisement card, it embodies complex ideas about the human relationship to the natural world.