The Bather on the Rock

Hi everyone! My name is Isabella, and I'm so excited to show you a really cool painting! It's called "The Bather on the Rock," and it was painted a long, long time ago by an artist named Paul Cézanne. nn Does anyone know what a bather is? (Pause for answers). Yes, it's someone who's taking a bath! But this bather isn't in a bathtub. He's outside, near some water, standing on a big rock. We only see his back, so it's a bit of a mystery, isn't it? What do you think he's thinking about? nn

This painting is HUGE! It's so big that it takes up a lot of space on the wall. Cézanne used lots and lots of paint to make it. Look closely – can you see the brushstrokes? They're not all neat and tidy, are they? They're kind of swirly and messy. That's because Cézanne wanted to show us how he felt about the bather and the scene, not just exactly what it looked like. nn

The colors are mostly dark greens and blues, like a forest or a mountain. The water is dark too, very still and quiet. And the bather's skin is a pale color. What do you think the dark colors make you feel? (Pause for answers). Maybe a little bit mysterious or peaceful? nn

Cézanne didn't paint every detail perfectly. He didn't draw the bather's body exactly like a photograph. He just suggested the shape of the body with his brushstrokes. It's like he's giving us a hint, and letting us use our imaginations to fill in the rest. What do you think the bather looks like from the front? nn

This painting is special because it shows us how Cézanne was starting to paint in a new way. He was one of the first artists to paint like this, with lots of visible brushstrokes and a focus on feeling rather than perfect detail. It's like a puzzle, and we get to help solve it by looking closely and thinking about what we see. nn

So, what did you think of "The Bather on the Rock"? Did you like the colors? The brushstrokes? What did you imagine the bather was thinking or feeling? Remember, looking at art is all about having your own ideas and feelings about it! Now let's go see some more amazing art!