Henri MatisseFrench, 1869–1954Bathers by a River
May one see it?
Yes, receiving visitors
Art Institute of Chicago
Room391Chicago, United States
On public display.
- Checked
- 4 hours ago
- In this state since
- Aug 19, 2026
- Source
- The museum's own collection data
About the painting
Bathers by a River (French: Les Demoiselles à la rivière), also known as Bathers at the River and occasionally referred to as simply Bathers, is a large 1917 oil-on-canvas painting by French artist Henri Matisse. Matisse began painting the canvas in 1909 and finished the painting in the fall of 1917, making it one of three pictures he painted (along with Piano Lesson and The Moroccans) during the Battle of Verdun.
Particulars
- Accession number
- 1953.158
What it shows
In the catalog
Sources
- Art Institute of Chicago: the museum's own open data · fetched 4 days ago
- Image: Art Institute of Chicago — © the artist or rights holder
Meanwhile, in the life of Henri Matisse
The whole life1908
Shchukin's Commission for "Dance" and "Music"
The Russian collector Sergei Shchukin commissioned three decorative panels from Matisse for his Moscow house: "Dance," "Music," and "Bathing" (which remained at the sketch stage). The money of Russian collectors allowed the artist to finally overcome his financial difficulties.
25 December 1908
"Notes of a Painter"
"Notes of a Painter" was published in La Grande Revue, in which Matisse formulated his artistic principles — the need to convey emotion directly through simple means.
January 1908
Opening of the Académie Matisse
With the support of the Steins, Hans Purrmann, and other patrons, Matisse founded a private, non-commercial painting school, where he taught from January 1908 to 1911. About 100 students studied at the academy during that time.
1911
Visit to Russia
In connection with the installation of the panels, Matisse visited Saint Petersburg and Moscow at Shchukin's invitation and was given an enthusiastic reception. The artist admired ancient Russian icons: "Now that is great art."
1912
First Exhibition in the United States
Matisse's first American exhibition was held in New York, organized by Alfred Stieglitz at Gallery 291.
1912–1913
Seven Months in Morocco
Matisse spent about seven months in Morocco, producing roughly 24 paintings and numerous drawings. His Orientalist motifs — odalisques and goldfish in aquariums — date from this period.
