Bathers

Galerie Valentin, Montreal Private Collection, Montreal

Edwin Holgate was inspired by the revival of woodblock and wood engraving prints after the First World War. He believed it was an appropriate medium to convey the clean modernist aesthetic, utilizing the contrast between black and white. Classical in nature, this print exemplifies one of Holgate’s most celebrated motifs of nudes within the landscape. As if happened upon by chance, the viewer witnesses the statuesque figure, posed in a traditional contrapposto position, being assisted by her companion amongst nature. With an emphasis on strong contouring lines, “Bathers” is a testament to the timelessness of Holgate’s printmaking practice and exemplifies the development of modernist trends within Canadian art.