Artwork
The Sun Bath
The Sun Bath is a print by Arthur William Heintzelman. It dates from 1919 and is held in the collection of the Cleveland Museum of Art.
About this work
Overview
The Sun Bath, a 1919 print by American artist Arthur William Heintzelman, is part of the collection of the Cleveland Museum of Art. The work presents a quiet domestic scene in which a robed woman and a child share a moment of gentle contact, rendered with a restrained, muted tonal range.
Subject & Meaning
In the composition the woman sits on the floor, her legs extended, while reaching toward the child’s hand. The child, turned away from the viewer, mirrors the intimacy of the gesture. The tableau suggests a tender, protective relationship, emphasizing quiet affection rather than narrative drama.
Technique & Style
Heintzelman employs chiaroscuro to model the figures, creating subtle depth that separates them from the surrounding space. The print’s palette is soft and subdued, allowing the robes and clothing to merge with the background, reinforcing the sense of calm intimacy. The handling of light and shadow gives the scene a three‑dimensional presence despite its flat medium.
History & Provenance
Created in the immediate post‑World War I period, The Sun Bath entered the Cleveland Museum of Art’s holdings, where it remains on view. Its acquisition reflects the museum’s early 20th‑century interest in American printmaking and the artist’s modest yet skilled output during that era.
Artist & collection
Artist
Arthur William Heintzelman (1891–1965) was an American artist, born in Newark.
Caresses
Mother and Children
The Dead Man (Der tote Mann)
Madonna and Children
Joseph und Potiphars Weib I (Joseph and Potiphar's Wife I)
Girl and Child
Mother and Child, No. 4
Pietà (1ère planche) (Pietà) (first plate)
The Blindfolding of Cupid
A False Scalping Performed by Iowa Tribe Members in Paris
A Child on a Couch, No.2
The Bath