Bathers

Otto Mueller

National Gallery of Art

This painting depicts four unclothed people in various poses within a lush, natural environment. The people have tan skin and shoulder-length dark hair. Two on the right appear to be women, but one on the left has their back to us, and another in the center is sitting on the ground, their knee raised and covering much of their torso. The people aren't drawn with clear facial features; instead, small dark dots show their eyes, with no detail beyond that. The background shows a dense forest or garden with green, brown, and hints of red brushstrokes indicating leaves, trees, and grass. In the background, a blue shape could indicate water nearby.