log in
Enter site
Login to use Arthive functionality to the maximum
A place to swim (Swimmers)
Thomas Eakins • Painting, 1885, 69.4×92.2 cm
Description of the artwork «A place to swim (Swimmers)»
For almost half a century of its existence, the painting "Place for swimming" has become perhaps the most discussed (and once – and most condemn) a work of Thomas Eakins. It has repeatedly called "a shining example of homoeroticism in American art". If to take into account the beliefs of the artist about working with Nude models, this choice of subject does not seem surprising or provocative. This picture is the crowning artistic career Eakins, who put in all the work of his skill in the depiction of the human body and embodied his views on "decent and indecent" nudity.
The painting was preceded by painstaking preparation. Eakins, who, as is well known, depicted on the canvas in the company of his students, made many pictures bathing young men, the outline of the oil and wax forms. At the moment there are only five shots out of all made by the artist, but given its thorough approach to work and love to take photos, it can be assumed that originally there were more. In these pictures students Eakins depicted in more natural poses than in the picture, but in the finished fabric the artist donated this realism for the sake of a perfect pyramidal composition. Some critics consider this feature a defect of the canvas, as unnatural lighting: some details of the picture too dark, while the bodies of the bathers too much lit on which to focus the viewer's eye.
In the late nineteenth century in the United States men bathed in the Nude, were not uncommon, even in public places. However, in American painting Eakins to these stories was not. Bathing was customary to portray women in order to emphasize the connection of femininity with nature. Eakins once again went against the Puritan rules of morality, capturing the moment from the own everyday life, which he regarded as unworthy of attention of high art, - the moment a friendly Union of the male brotherhood.
The painting "bathing Place" ordered Ikins Philadelphia businessman Edward Coates Hornor for the Pennsylvania Academy of the fine arts. However, when the artist presented him the finished work, the customer for some unknown reason it was abandoned, very ornate, but still making it clear that the canvas is no place in the collection of the Academy. Perhaps the reason for this was that the picture shows men were students of Eakins (and the management of the institution were considered indecent such informal relationship between the teacher and his wards), and the artist was traditionally placed on the canvas and himself – in the lower right corner. Whatever it was, during the life of the artist, the painting was exhibited only twice, and both times, critics have bypassed their attention. However, a year after Eakins's death is "swimming Place" was the main reason for the growth of public interest in his work and, in the end, recognizing him as one of the greatest American artists of the NINETEENTH century.
Author: Eugene Sidelnikov
The painting was preceded by painstaking preparation. Eakins, who, as is well known, depicted on the canvas in the company of his students, made many pictures bathing young men, the outline of the oil and wax forms. At the moment there are only five shots out of all made by the artist, but given its thorough approach to work and love to take photos, it can be assumed that originally there were more. In these pictures students Eakins depicted in more natural poses than in the picture, but in the finished fabric the artist donated this realism for the sake of a perfect pyramidal composition. Some critics consider this feature a defect of the canvas, as unnatural lighting: some details of the picture too dark, while the bodies of the bathers too much lit on which to focus the viewer's eye.
In the late nineteenth century in the United States men bathed in the Nude, were not uncommon, even in public places. However, in American painting Eakins to these stories was not. Bathing was customary to portray women in order to emphasize the connection of femininity with nature. Eakins once again went against the Puritan rules of morality, capturing the moment from the own everyday life, which he regarded as unworthy of attention of high art, - the moment a friendly Union of the male brotherhood.
The painting "bathing Place" ordered Ikins Philadelphia businessman Edward Coates Hornor for the Pennsylvania Academy of the fine arts. However, when the artist presented him the finished work, the customer for some unknown reason it was abandoned, very ornate, but still making it clear that the canvas is no place in the collection of the Academy. Perhaps the reason for this was that the picture shows men were students of Eakins (and the management of the institution were considered indecent such informal relationship between the teacher and his wards), and the artist was traditionally placed on the canvas and himself – in the lower right corner. Whatever it was, during the life of the artist, the painting was exhibited only twice, and both times, critics have bypassed their attention. However, a year after Eakins's death is "swimming Place" was the main reason for the growth of public interest in his work and, in the end, recognizing him as one of the greatest American artists of the NINETEENTH century.
Author: Eugene Sidelnikov
