Description
Henri Matisse – Bathers by a River
| Year of creation: | 1909-1916 |
| Original size: | 389.9 cm x 259.7 cm |
| Painting style: | Fauvism |
| Original technique: | Oil on canvas |
| Located: | Art Institute of Chicago, USA |
Bathers by a River – Henri Matisse
Bathers by a River is a 1909–1916 painting by Henri Matisse, held by the Art Institute of Chicago: four grey, simplified nude figures between vertical bands of green, black, white and blue. We paint our hand-painted study of Bathers by a River to order on canvas, in oil or acrylic, in 8 sizes from 80 × 50 cm to 390 × 260 cm or in a custom size. Before Bathers by a River is dispatched, we send you a photo of the finished painting.
What does Bathers by a River show?
In Bathers by a River four tall, grey-pink nude figures, simplified almost into statues, stand between four vertical bands: a green band with leaves on the left, then black, white and pale blue, with a small white snake crawling at the bottom. Matisse worked on the painting for seven years and turned a cheerful riverside scene into a severe, almost Cubist structure, which is why Bathers by a River feels monumental, calm and mysterious.
How is our hand-painted study of Bathers by a River made?
Our painters paint the study of Bathers by a River by hand, with brushstrokes of different thickness, separately for every order. We paint in oil or acrylic, depending on the subject and the size, so the surface of Bathers by a River has a real paint texture that a print does not have. When Bathers by a River is finished, we photograph it and send you the photo for approval.
Which size of Bathers by a River suits your room?
For the wall above a sofa or a sideboard choose Bathers by a River in 120 × 80 cm, and for a bedroom, hallway or work corner 80 × 50 cm. Bathers by a River is available in 80 × 50 cm, 120 × 80 cm, 150 × 100 cm, 200 × 130 cm, 250 × 170 cm, 300 × 200 cm, 350 × 230 cm and 390 × 260 cm. The 390 × 260 cm size is almost the size of the original: the original of Bathers by a River measures 389.9 × 259.7 cm, so our painting is 1 mm longer on one side and 3 mm on the other. A simple rule for Bathers by a River: it should be about two thirds as wide as the furniture below it, with its centre about 150 cm from the floor.
How does Bathers by a River arrive, and when?
We ship Bathers by a River rolled in a sturdy tube, stretched on 2.5 cm deep wooden stretcher bars, or framed – you choose when you order. Stretching and framing of Bathers by a River are done in our workshop in Slovenia. When a size of Bathers by a River is in stock, it reaches you within 6 working days; a study of Bathers by a River painted to order reaches you in 15 to 45 days.
Frequently asked questions about Bathers by a River
Is Bathers by a River a print?
No. Every brushstroke of Bathers by a River is painted by hand on canvas, so the paint visibly stands up from the surface.
Can I order Bathers by a River in a size that is not listed?
Yes. We also paint Bathers by a River in a custom size; enter the width and height you want when you order Bathers by a River.
Why did Matisse work so long on Bathers by a River?
Matisse began Bathers by a River in 1909 and reworked it several times until 1916, when, under the influence of Cubism, he built it from severe bands and simplified bodies.
Is Bathers by a River a good gift?
Bathers by a River is a gift for a Matisse fan or for a large, modern room. If you are unsure which size of Bathers by a River to choose, give a gift voucher.
