84. Bathing [1917.]

The aesthetics of the nude figure from Vlaho Bukovac's Prague phase of creation is fully embodied in this smaller format piece, known in older publications under the title "Bathing". In this signed work, Bukovac centrally positions a refined figure of a young girl, surrounding her with rich and thick greenery, and submerging her white feet in the silvery depths of a lake or stream. Even though the displayed girl is fully naked, and it is certain that Vlaho Bukovac depicted her not in the act of bathing, but posing or a kind of unveiling for the viewer's gaze, he nevertheless resolves this motif without traces of lasciviousness or inappropriate eroticism. Bukovac almost thoughtfully shapes the figure of a young and somewhat coquettish girl, creating an extremely decorative scene that still satisfied the moral demands of society at the time and could be found in the collections of contemporary collectors without causing major scandals. Indeed, it seems as if Bukovac in this act does not just outline bare nudity, but embodies the concept of human coexistence with nature, metamorphosing his model into a mesmerizing water nymph from old stories and myths - a kind of element of nature. This harmonious coexistence of the beauty of nature and the young female body has obviously been positively received, because Bukovac repeats the motif of a young girl bathing and surrounded by nature in several works, as it is evident from works such as "Girl on the Hill" (1912), "After Bathing" (1917), and "By the Lake" (1920). The overall popularity of this motif is evidenced enough by the fact that "Bathing" was reproduced in the form of a black and white postcard, which was issued in three languages. Thus, this delicate work by Bukovac stood alongside many other Bukovac's works from the Prague period, which due to their general appeal were widely reproduced and distributed in the form of postcards, such as "Semi-Nude with Green Fabric" (1909), "The Fall of Saint Dominika" (1911), "Little Marquise" (1916), and "Pensive" (1916). MM

References

VERA KRUŽIĆ-UCHYTIL, "Vlaho Bukovac - Life and Work", Matica Hrvatska, Zagreb, 1968. VERA KRUŽIĆ-UCHYTIL, "Vlaho Bukovac - Life and Work", Globus, Zagreb, 2005. NIKO KAPETANIĆ, "Bukovac on Postcards", Museums and galleries of Konavle, Cavtat, 2022.

Dimensions

width 33.5 cm, height 48 cm

Description

oil on canvas mounted on cardboard, signed, located and dated lower right, "Vlaho Bukovac, Praha, 1917"

Research information

The work is mentioned and identified in the monograph Vera Kružić-Uchytil, "Vlaho Bukovac - Life and Work", Matica Hrvatska, Zagreb, 1968. on page 272, under the title "Bathing" and catalogue number 852. The work is catalogued in the monograph "Vlaho Bukovac. Life and Work", Zagreb, 2005 by author Vera Kružić Uchytil in the chapter "Prague period 1903 - 1922.", under the title "Bathing" and catalogue number K-965. The work is reproduced on an old trilingual (Czech, German, and French) postcard under the title "Bathing". The postcard is reproduced in "Bukovac on Postcards", Niko Kapetanić, Cavtat, 2022, on page 88.

Dating

1917.

PROVENANCE

Dorotheum, 05.03.2005, lot no. 50.

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