Artwork
Sarah la Baigneuse
Sarah la Baigneuse is a print by the Impressionist artist Henri Fantin-Latour. It dates from 1892 and is held in the collection of the Cleveland Museum of Art.
About this work
Her hair streams behind her like wet fabric, and the trees in the background are dark and tangled.
This sketch shows a woman standing in water, her body turned slightly as she holds up one arm. Her hair streams behind her like wet fabric, and the trees in the background are dark and tangled. The whole scene is drawn in loose, quick lines—no smooth shapes, just rough strokes.
The artist left her face mostly hidden, focusing on the movement of her body and the water. This was made in 1892, when artists were playing with light and everyday moments.
Next, check out The Cleveland Museum of Art to see this sketch in person.
Overview
Sarah la Baigneuse is a 1892 print by Henri Fantin-Latour, a French artist known for his still-life compositions and portraits of artists and writers.
Subject & Meaning
The print depicts a woman bathing, her body turned as she raises an arm, with her hair flowing behind her like wet fabric. The artist emphasizes the movement of her body and the surrounding water, leaving her face largely obscured.
Technique & Style
The scene is rendered in loose, quick lines, with rough strokes used to convey the trees, water, and the woman's body. This style reflects the artist's focus on capturing everyday moments and the play of light.
Artist & collection
Artist
Ignace Henri Jean Theodore Fantin-Latour (French pronunciation: ; 14 January 1836 – 25 August 1904) was a French painter and lithographer best known for his flower paintings and group portraits of Parisian artists and writers.
