Artwork
Bañistas
Bañistas is an oil painting by the Post-Impressionist artist Lucien Simon. It dates from 1909 and is held in the collection of the National Museum of Fine Arts, Argentina.
About this work
Subject & Meaning
This specific attire anchors the scene in the cultural context of Brittany, blending the universal genre of the nude with regional ethnic identity.
Lucien Simon's 1909 oil painting Bañistas depicts a coastal landscape featuring female figures in a state of nudity near the sea. The composition integrates natural elements such as trees and clouds with the human form, situating the bathers within an outdoor environment. A distinct element of the iconography is the inclusion of the coiffe bretonne, a traditional Breton headdress, worn by one of the women.
This specific attire anchors the scene in the cultural context of Brittany, blending the universal genre of the nude with regional ethnic identity. The work represents a synthesis of landscape and figure painting, focusing on the interaction between the bathers and their seaside surroundings.
Technique & Style
Bañistas is executed in oil paint on a canvas support, a medium typical of Lucien Simon’s early‑20th‑century practice. The work measures 110 cm high by 87 cm wide and belongs to the landscape genre while also presenting a nude female figure wearing a coiffe bretonne beside the sea, with clouds and trees visible in the background. These compositional elements combine figure and seascape motifs, reflecting Simon’s interest in blending nude studies with coastal scenery. No specific information about brush handling or the painting’s current condition is provided in the sources.
History & Provenance
Bañistas was created by Lucien Simon in 1909. The painting, executed in oil on canvas, measures 110 by 87 cm. It is held in the collection of the National Museum of Fine Arts, Argentina, where it remains today. No information about its commission or prior ownership chain is provided in the sources.
The work is held by the National Museum of Fine Arts, Argentina, where it is inventoried as part of the museum’s holdings.
It was exhibited at the National Museum of Fine Arts, Argentina, as recorded in the institution’s collection entry.
Overview
Lucien Simon’s 1909 oil painting titled Bañistas presents a coastal tableau where four figures gather along a rugged shoreline. The composition balances a tranquil sea and a cloudy sky with the intimate presence of two standing women, a seated woman in a vivid red dress, and a man leaning nearby. The work is part of the collection of the National Museum of Fine Arts in Buenos Aires.
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Artist & collection
Museum
National Museum of Fine Arts, Argentina
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