The theme of bathers is a classic subject in art, dating back to ancient times and often symbolizing a human connection to the natural world. Similar scenes can be seen from the myth of Diana and Actaeon where goddesses and nymphs bathe in secluded natural settings. In Baigneuses (1870), Paul Cézanne takes this traditional theme and reimagines it through an early expressionistic style. His rough brushstrokes capture the figures as shadowy forms creating a raw, abstracted atmosphere.
Cézanne is widely seen as a precursor to both Cubism and abstract art, influencing Picasso with his emphasis on form and structure. At the same time his emotional and suggestive approach to color also lends the idea of him as a forefather of the Expressionist movement. In Baigneuses, Cézanne's figures become one with the landscape, bridging the gap between realistic representation and expressive, abstract forms and again setting the stage for the evolution of modern art.