The artwork “Bathers” by Pablo Picasso, created in 1918, is an oil on canvas painting measuring 26.3 cm by 21.7 cm. This piece is reflective of the Neoclassical movement, a period marked by a return to traditional and classical forms, and can be categorized within the genre painting category, which depicts scenes of everyday life.
The artwork presents a harmonious scene set at a seaside location, characterized by a serene atmosphere. Three figures, presumably female bathers, are depicted in various states of repose and activity against a background that includes a distant lighthouse and a sailboat. These figures showcase rounded forms and a softness in their postures that contrasts the backdrop of sharp horizon lines and the solid rocks interspersed on the beach. The subdued color palette primarily consists of earth tones, with hints of blue that unify the composition and reflect the palette typical of Neoclassicism. Through the artwork, one can perceive Picasso’s interplay of classical beauty with a modern sensibility, capturing the timeless joy and tranquility of a moment by the sea.
