Scenes of bathing or figures at play in water have been a favored subject since antiquity, celebrated in Greek and Roman art and embraced by Renaissance and modern painters alike. For artists, the theme was compelling because it offered the opportunity to depict the nude in harmony with nature—set against lakes, rivers, or the sea—while evoking idyllic or mythological settings.

In the nineteenth century, Impressionist painters reimagined this traditional subject by portraying contemporary Parisians swimming or relaxing outdoors, enveloped in natural light and atmosphere. These works retained echoes of classical compositions but also served as arenas for experimentation with color and light. At the same time, they reflected evolving cultural discourses—about gender, race, and the voyeuristic gaze—transforming the long established theme of bathers into a distinctly modern one.