Representation of bathers by Paul-Emile Chabas (1869-1937)

Abstract

The painting of Paul-Emile Chabas is representative of that of the end of the 19th century which relies on the fantasies of the public by showing female nudity. Nevertheless, the artist stands out for having made these figures a subject in their own right, having his young models pose most often at the edge of the water. For this article, it is a question of analyzing and categorizing the different representations of the female nude by Paul-Emile Chabas with regard to artistic production between the two centuries. This study has also aims to account for the preponderance of the subject of bathers within the artist’s production, a multiplicity that earned him recognition.