Nymph at the bath, oil on canvas by Paul Emile Chabas (1869-1937).
He and his brother Maurice trained at a very early age at the Julian studio, under William Bouguereau and Tony Robert-Fleury. In 1885, he exhibited at the Salon des artistes français, and would continue to show his work on a regular basis.
An appreciated portraitist, he was made a Chevalier de la Légion d'Honneur in 1902, reflecting his esteem in Parisian high society.
He excelled at depicting women and nymphs in nature, a sign of a lighter style of painting than that of his brother.
The present painting is entirely faithful to this spirit, depicting a nymph or undine bathing in a pond surrounded by mountains. Nature becomes a setting for feminine beauty and gentleness.
