Baigneuses luttant (Bathers Wrestling)
1896
ink
From the collection of National Gallery of Art
About the artist
1896
ink
From the collection of National Gallery of Art
Baigneuses luttant (Bathers Wrestling) is a 1896 ink by Camille Pissarro, a Impressionism work, held at National Gallery of Art.
This sketch shows three women in a wooded area, their bodies tangled in a loose, playful struggle. One woman sits on the ground, her arms wrapped around another who leans back, while a third stands nearby, her posture relaxed. The trees around them are drawn in quick, rough lines, and the whole scene feels sketchy and alive. The artist used a technique that lets ink sit on a smooth stone before pressing paper onto it—this is how the lines got that slightly fuzzy, sketchy look. It’s not polished, but it’s full of movement. If you like this style, look up lithography to see how it works.
