The Bathers
This artwork is a prime example of Courbet's unconventional approach to depicting nudes. In this painting, which stands at an impressive eight feet tall, two women are depicted in a partially nude state without any mythical or rhetorical justification. Their figures are portrayed realistically, without idealization. Upon its initial unveiling, the artwork was met with harsh criticism, with Delacroix condemning the "naked and overweight bourgeoisie... buttocks, and meaningless gestures." However, instead of being detrimental, this negative attention actually garnered positive publicity for the painting, and despite the criticisms, Courbet was able to sell the work.
James Webb
1878
