The artwork “Study of Bathers” by Paul Cezanne, dating from circa 1898, exemplifies the artist’s transitional style towards Cubism. It is an oil on canvas piece, with dimensions of 26 x 40 cm. As a genre painting that also serves as a sketch and study, it is part of the “Bathers” series and currently resides in the Pushkin Museum in Moscow, Russia.
In the artwork, Paul Cezanne depicts a scene of bathers in a natural landscape. The composition features multiple figures engaged in various poses related to bathing and leisure by the water. Cezanne’s approach to the human form here is characteristic of his developing style, employing a sense of structure that prefigures the geometric simplification that would become a hallmark of Cubism. The figures are roughly outlined and rendered with visible brushstrokes, providing a sense of the spontaneous and dynamic qualities of a study or sketch rather than a polished, finished work.
The background reveals a verdant environment with trees and hints of a water source, possibly a river or lake, which is integral to the theme of bathing. The color palette incorporates earthy tones along with green and blue hues to convey the presence of the natural world, while the handling of light suggests the interplay between sun and shade. Cezanne’s distinctive use of color and form in this artwork reveals his ongoing exploration of perception and representation, a significant element that has deeply influenced modern art, ultimately contributing to the rise of Cubism and other avant-garde movements.
