Harem Pool by Jean-Léon Gérôme

The quiet world of Ottoman baths is represented here with very special attention paid to misty atmospheres. The famous creator Gérôme Jean-Léon delivers a work of great sensuality, blending documentary rigor with aesthetic idealization. The painting entitled “Harem Pool” invites the viewer into the sacred intimacy of a hammam reserved for women of high society. This clever and mysterious composition reflects the fascination of Western painters of the era for Oriental harems.

In a vast Oriental bathroom richly decorated with blue and white tilework with superb geometric designs, several women are resting peacefully. In the foreground, a young red-haired woman entirely naked is lying from behind on a couch covered with a beautiful floral fabric. Next to her, a brunette woman covered with a white sheet is seated on a green carpet with fine patterns. Before them, a tall black servant dressed in a long dark robe and a blue turban holds a large copper hookah. Other bathers can be seen in the misty and warm darkness of the background under soft rays of light.

The artist’s virtuous technique triumphs in the silky rendering of the skin and the metallic gleam of the copper objects. His absolute mastery of oil painting allows him to recreate the freshness of the glazed tiles and the humid atmosphere of the bath. This masterpiece testifies to a first-rate craftsmanship.