The Toilette (La Toilette)
1887 Barnes Foundation
About this artwork
This oil painting by Paul Cézanne, titled "The Toilette," features two female figures in an intimate domestic setting. One figure stands nude, raising her arms, while another is seated at a dressing table, facing a mirror. The composition reflects Cézanne's exploration of the human form and space through color and geometric simplification.
Did you know?
Cézanne's "The Toilette" belongs to his long series of Bathers, a recurring theme throughout his career where he explored the human form in relation to landscape and architectural elements. This particular work, focusing on an interior scene of personal grooming, offers a more intimate glimpse into the everyday lives of women, challenging traditional representations of the nude by emphasizing form and structure rather than idealized beauty. It's said that Cézanne often painted multiple figures from memory and imagination, composing them within his distinct, structured landscapes and interiors.
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The Toilette (La Toilette)
Paul Cezanne, 1887
