Two Bathing Girls 

Editor: This is Otto Mueller's "Two Bathing Girls", an ink drawing. It has such an interesting, almost stark, simplicity. The use of line really captures the figures. How would you interpret this work within its historical context? Curator: Well, looking at this drawing through a historical lens, we see Mueller deeply engaged with the socio-political climate of early 20th-century Germany. His alignment with Die Brücke, for example, marks his rejection of academic tradition and a embrace of raw, unfiltered emotion. The chosen medium, ink, also points to certain accessibility that allowed it to disseminate easier into printed media. This artwork echoes Expressionism’s interest in representing primitive and untamed humanity, and this choice carries social meaning. Why do you think he turned to the image of nude bathers? Editor: Perhaps the figures bathing evoke a sense of naturalness and escape, something beyond the urban constraints or social expectation. The loose ink lines add to that rawness. Curator: Exactly! Consider how the motif of nude bathers had a prominent role in challenging bourgeois norms of the period, particularly during an era marked by strict social regulations and anxieties. These works appeared in public exhibitions. The very act of displaying the female nude became a declaration of artistic freedom. What I wonder is if Mueller’s gender influences our reading of these images. Editor: That's interesting. Do you mean the gaze, or the representation? Perhaps both, to some extent. Thinking about the gaze reveals further considerations in this image. I didn't consider that until now. Curator: Exactly! How different is this, than if it were a self-portrait, or drawn by a woman? Editor: Thank you. This has definitely expanded my thinking. It's interesting to think about this art having a real public impact through image and controversy. Curator: I agree; it is exciting when you look at how art participates in culture! Thank you.