And some more bathers (3/3)

Bathers, Badende 3/3

After the German expressionist examples in last posting now following and closing the theme is a choice of examples of Bathers ("Badende") in engravings, woodblock- and linoleumcut prints by European and other printmakers. Nymphs, Graces and common (are there?) bathing women. 

From ancient Hellenistic and unnamed classic artists (r) through Renaissance and painter Lucas Cranach the elder (1472-1533, l.) to our recent times a group of bathing women has intriqued men and inspired artists on all continents creating works of art and masterpieces. 




Although in no way this posting is an essay on Graces and Nymphs it's fun to see modern printmakers following in the footsteps of their brothers in Art adding a completely new chapter and volumes of wonderful pictures to history.   

Over time general and personal aesthetic values and taste have been shifting and changing. Pieter Paul Rubens' (1577-1640) 3 graces (above)  considered once the pink of perfection and female beauty today can be encountered and enjoyed in life during a walk along the beach. God, beauty and works of art are omnipresent. Time however has learned eventually more Hellenistic proportions probably will prevail. 

Proportions like in Jean Baptiste Regnault's (1754-1829) painting (1799, l.) and Jean Jacques (James) Pradier's (1790-1852) 3 Graces statue (r). 

These 3 brave contemporary Graces, with a wink, proving perception of real beauty is in the eye of the beholder. Aesthetics and its expressions in art following cycles of enlightenment, prosperity, nutritional values and changing climate.  

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France

Louis Moreau (1883-1958)

Woodblock print and painting by Paul Vaucleroy (1868-1961) 

Felix Valloton (1865-1925) (l)
Paule Vezelay, who was born and baptize Marjory Watson Williams (1892-1984) (r)

Aristide Maillol, besides painter, sculptor also a woodblock printmaker (1861-1944)

British

Ivy Anne Ellis (exh. 1920-1939) (l) studied at Birmingham School of Art, and  

John Buckland-Wright (1887-1954) (r)

Erick Gill (1882-1940) (l.)

Ian Armstrong (1923-2005) (r.)

Japan

Yamamoto Kanae (1882-1946). See also the recent Red Haired Beauty posting. Next I'll show together all remarkable prints of this enigmatic Japan trained but European influenced and seldom seen printmaker I was able to excavate from the www.

Shiro Kasamatsu (1882-1946)

& rest of the world.

Moissey Kogan (1879-1943) (L.) was a Russian-French artist murdered in Auschwitz.  And I even found an example by a Dutch printmaker: Han Snel (1925-1998) (R.)

Suisse

Giovanni Giacometi (1868-1933), showing what a little color can do.

Italy

Marino Marini (1901-1980): "Bagnati"

PS: These postings, following my stream of consciouness, are in no way "complete". There'll be probably hords of examples more. These are my just personal choice. You are invited to share and leave a comment when leaving. 

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Please revisit the updated Bathers (2/3) posting  with a new unidentified German Expressionist print and a request for help (end of posting) 

More Bathers, Badende (2/3)

More Bathers (Badende) in print (2/3)

Following Emil Ganso's “Bathers” (L, posting march-24) and my stream of consciousness here are some more examples and variations on a theme. In a similar arrangement John Buckland-Wright's (1897-1954) composition (R). 

Stephen J. Laurent (cont.)

"Badende" has in German a both singular and plural meaning. Limiting the vast number of works showing a bathing woman and bathing women depicted in art-in-general this posting is limited showing examples of multiple bathing females shown by printmakers. Starting with examples by German printmakers. 

German expressionist printmakers Erich Heckel (1883-1970), Otto Müller (1874-1930), Ernst Ludwig Kirchner (1880-1938) and Max Pechstein (1881-1955) dedicated much of their lives and work to "Badende" prints both in color as in black and white. Others more incidentally turned to this theme like Karl Schmidt-Rottluff (1884-1976) and Emil Nolde.

 Erich Heckel

Otto Müller 

 Ernst Ludwig Kirchner 

Max Pechstein

This particular theme, “bathers”, a mix of mythical Three Graces: Aglaya, Euphrosyne and Thalya devoted to Charm, Virtue, Beauty and Creativity,  and Nymphs: the divine spirits. Added to the idealised by men (how many of them actually have ever whitnessed such a gathering of women?) aesthetic beauty of female nudity in an arcadial setting and multiplied by 3.

Ernst Ludwig Kirchner (L.),  Karl Schmidt-Rottluff (R.)

One of the very few exceptions is made by Max Liebermann (1847-1935) who earlier (in the last years of 19th century) created his controversial and thought homo erotical etchings and paintings of bathing boys. An opinion we now consider phobic and pathetic of course. They are what they are. And great works of art.   

Alfredo Müller (1869-1939) who besides women must have had a great  admiration for Rembrandt.

 Hans Juchser (1894-1977)

The list of examples is sheer endless of course, these examples a personal choice. 

ADDED: 16 April 2012

German reader Michael Kriegeskorte send me this unsigned and not monogrammed expressionist "Badende" print. Please help with identification (possibly Walther Klemm ?)

NOID, Krajina, Croatia linocut

Some 25 years ago a friend saw this print, along with several others by the same printmaker, in their holliday hotel in a small village in former Yougaslavia.  Artistically involved himself and impressed he asked if he possibly could buy a one.

After several rounds of drinks and frequently toasting to mutual health and prosperity with his friendly hosts he was given this one in everlasting friendship. It's probably a linocut made with several blocks, dated and numbered 57/200, 1982 and titled Krijina, which is the historical and troubled by conflict and war borderland now called Croatia. The signature I cannot read (Vasco Horvy...). So once again I request the help of readers identifying the printmaker.  

Kraijna