The artwork “Two girls bathing” is an oil on canvas painting created by the artist Paul Gauguin in 1887 in France. This piece is a representation of the Post-Impressionism movement and falls within the genre of nude painting (nu). The artwork is housed in the Museo Nacional de Bellas Artes (MNBA) located in Buenos Aires, Argentina.
The artwork depicts a pastoral scene with two nude females engaged in the act of bathing. The setting is lush and green, possibly a riverside or a secluded spot in nature. There is an intimate, serene quality to the scene, suggesting a moment of privacy and tranquility. One of the figures is seated near the water’s edge, partially turned away from the viewer, immersing her hands in the water. The other figure stands prominently in the foreground, her back to the viewer, as she appears to be stepping into the water.
Gauguin’s technique in this painting features the bold application of color and a departure from the realism that dominated the art of the previous century. The brushwork is loose and expressive, contributing to a sense of movement and life within the piece. The figures are stylized and exhibit a simplicity of form that is characteristic of Gauguin’s move towards a more abstract and symbolist representation of subjects. The overall composition, with the use of vibrant colors and dynamic lines, reflects the Post-Impressionist interest in conveying emotional and symbolic content rather than merely capturing a literal representation of the world.
