Artwork
Breton Bathers (Baigneuses Bretonnes)
Breton Bathers (Baigneuses Bretonnes) is an ink print by the Impressionist artist Paul Gauguin. It dates from 1889 and is held in the collection of the National Gallery of Art. Created in 1889, *Breton Bathers* is a lithographic print executed on imitation Japan paper.
About this work
Overview
Created in 1889, *Breton Bathers* is a lithographic print executed on imitation Japan paper. The work belongs to Paul Gauguin’s series of images that explore rural Brittany, rendered in a simplified, graphic manner that departs from the fleeting effects of Impressionism and moves toward a more symbolic visual language.
Subject & Meaning
The composition presents three nude women positioned against a craggy shoreline, their bodies reduced to smooth, abstracted forms. Set within a Breton landscape that includes distant cliffs and a small village, the scene reflects Gauguin’s fascination with folk traditions and his desire to evoke timeless, archetypal figures rather than realistic portraiture.
Technique & Style
Gauguin employed lithography, drawing the image on a flat zinc plate with greasy media that yields uneven, textured lines when printed. The resulting surface is marked by a scratchy quality and loose strokes, emphasizing flat areas of color and bold outlines characteristic of his Synthetist approach, which synthesizes form and color over naturalistic detail.
History & Provenance
The print was produced during Gauguin’s productive period in France, when he was actively experimenting with print media alongside painting and sculpture. It was issued as part of a limited edition of lithographs that circulated among collectors and fellow artists, contributing to his reputation as an innovator in early modern printmaking.
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Artist & collection
Artist
Eugène Henri Paul Gauguin (; French: ; 7 June 1848 – 8 May 1903) was a French painter, sculptor, printmaker, ceramist, and writer, whose work has been primarily associated with the Post-Impressionist and Symbolist movements.
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