Image

Constant Nieuwenhuys-Les Baigneurs, 2002

Photographer

Tom Haartsen

Les baigneurs

2002
163,0cm
x 170,0cm
linen
oil paint
Collection Fondation Constant longterm loan to Kunstmuseum Den Haag, NL

CID

13

the inspiration for this painting originates in October 2000 while visiting the Picasso Museum in Antibe, south of France, in preparation for his retrospective the following year. The Picasso Museum, located in former Château Grimaldi, looks out over the spectacular bay of Antibes. Constant is fascinated by the Mediterranean light and when he returns home he is inspired to start a new painting. He abandons his earthly hues for a bright sea blue palette.

In some of his paintings Constant places a figure resembling himself in the scene. But, not a swimmer himself, he is absent in this scene portraying the swimmers as if he is observing them from a distance.

English title

Bathers

Alternate titles

De baders
2008

Signed/dated

Signed and dated Constant 2001-02, bottom right from center in blue paint

Provenance

2002 Constant
2005 Collection Trudy Nieuwenhuys-van der Horst, NL
2008 Collection Trudy Nieuwenhuys-van der Horst, longterm loan to Stedelijk Museum Schiedam, NL
2012 Collection Fondation Constant, longterm loan to Stedelijk Museum Schiedam, NL
2023 Collection Fondation Constant, longterm loan to Kunstmuseum Den Haag, NL
Tags
Blue
People
Play
Purple
Water

Frame dimensions

184 x 190,5 x 9 cm