In this large art photograph, a fresh-faced swimmer peeks through the water’s surface. Her eyes remain closed, while a few outstretched fingers find the pool wall, anchoring her nude body beneath the weight of the water.
The woman’s submerged form is distorted, masked by the ripples and shifting reflections. Glossy wavelets shimmer and swirl around her like fresh, melted candy.
Composition
There are three predominant elements in the composition: her warm-toned body, the blue water surrounding her, and the brickwork at the left of the image.
The nude woman is rendered in cool flesh tones, accented by her face, which is lifted above the surface. The majority of her figure is underwater and mostly obscured by refraction and other distortions.
Glistening blue surrounds her body. The water is a chaotic mix of light patterns and ripples. The intense color commands attention.
The brick pool wall at the left is perhaps the most curious of these design elements. It forms a strong vertical that connects the top and bottom of the image. Despite occupying a small portion of the composition, this is perhaps its strongest distinction on an abstract level.
Theme
Water pervades this scene, with the exception of the vertical column of bricks. The swimmer’s face and hair are streaked with bright sparkles. The lashes of her closed eyelids and her lips gleam with liquid highlights. The depth of the pool is indeterminate; while one gets the feeling that it is too deep to stand, the floor remains shallow enough to act as a reflector, sending light brilliantly back to the surface.
The lack of concrete detail imparts an overall feeling of motion rather than a frozen instant.
If this large artwork isn’t your cup of tea, consider a smaller art nude photograph featuring two women swimming. Or take a look at a large art photograph that doesn’t feature a woman swimming.
