Bathing Woman Sitting

A nude woman with long, loose hair sits hunched forward, her left arm reaching out in front. The picture is drawn in soft, fine lines, with dense diagonal shading in the upper left background, and the body stands out in the brightness of the bare paper. The artist's signature appears at the lower right. It is an etching, measuring 21.9 x 13.7 cm.

According to the museum's commentary, the original drawing was made in 1881, and in the same year an oil painting with the same composition, Bathing Woman (Sterling and Francine Clark Art Institute), was also painted. Another work with the same composition, in a private collection, followed in 1882.

The museum says the repeated use of this composition shows that the model was a favorite of Renoir, and explains that she was Aline Charigot, who became his wife in 1885. The sweet expression, long hair, and full-bodied figure are described as thoroughly Renoir-like.