COVE

Display Explanation

            The images I have chosen, After the Bath, Woman with a Towel, and Woman in a Tub resemble and create a statement that ties to the other image I was given, In the Tepidarium. The way I would set up these images to make the statement have the power it does is by putting them up like a trifold mirror that would have the two images of the woman bathing facing towards the woman with a towel to draw the eyes to the side images first and then the center image. On the left side, it would be the Woman in a Tub and the right side would be In the Tepidarium, so they are across from each other to make the observer attracted to the image that draws them in. Then they will look at the other side to understand the image others are drawn to, which will then drag the eye to the center image to see what the images are aligned to. This trifold mirror look would be placed on a wall that would be like a bay window but instead of the windows, the images would take their place. This will be so that the observer is drawn to the room and can feel the beauty and power of the installation. Bay windows are a comfortable place where many sit to relax, feel comfort, think, realize things, and talk about many powerful things, which is how these images should make the observer feel. The bay window effect will draw them into the installation, realize how they see themselves, and feel the power, beauty, and comfort the images tell the statement. The walls around the installation will be a very light blue to brighten the room and make the observer feel like it is a peaceful place. This will resemble the acting of the bright sunny blue sky on a warm summer's day to bring happiness and positive ora around the installation which will give a positive mind. The light blue gives the room some color which is what humans do in their rooms to make it feel more homey and comfortable but it does not overpower the images if anything it draws the observer to them because it compliments them. The lights will not be led lights they will be bright to resemble the sun light shinning into the room but they will have a warmer hue to also resemble warmth and peace as if someone was sitting on the beach enjoying the sound of the waves crashing down and soaking up the sunlight. This will be a way to open the observers mind positively and draw them into the installation to empower their minds of the beauty in hopes that the observer feels safe and comfortable to come back to when they feel down or need a reminder of their own beauty. This installation is designed to build the confidence of the observer through each image that will inspire them to help them work through their struggles.

Installation Note 

The image to the left in the trifold mirror is the Woman in the bath, which is an image of a woman in her basin bathing. However, if one were to investigate the image closer, the woman is washing herself with a sponge in the basin, which shows that she is most likely lower class and just getting by. The shape of her body while bending down looks relaxed and peaceful while she’s cleaning herself. The woman is folded over herself but still has her shoulders loosened while her legs are positioned staggered and bent but heavy like she had just worked a long shift. The staggered and bent legs are in a comfortable stance showing she is relaxed. The shoulders being loosened shows a sense of confidence in herself when she may be hiding her body from the observer but is not hiding her body at all;  she is open in the way her body is bending over herself to clean the sponge with a flat back and a straight line from the top of the bend down to her arm. Her shape in her body and the loosened shoulder not only show confidence but also show power in herself. The relaxation in her body is a sense of pleasure that she is giving herself as well. In the image to the right in the trifold mirror is In the Tepidarium which has many props to help the observer to interpret the image more than the last. This image takes place in a tepidarium which is a steam room where the upper class went to bathe. This woman is lying on a fur blanket with pillows to resemble her comfort in her atmosphere. Along with this, her body is open and positioned in a way to show the observer she is comfortable in her own body and confident in her image. The tool in her backhand is a tool they used to clean themselves but is also used in other ways which resemble she is finding pleasure for herself even in a hot and steamy room.  The plant next to her represents cleanliness and empowerment which draws from her empowerment in her sexuality and confidence in her skin. The middle image is After the Bath, Woman with a Towel which shows a woman standing outside her bathtub drying herself off. The tub is a middle-class tub that many other people have. The way she is drying herself off with the towel gives a sense of relaxation with the flimsiness of her hands and a lack of tension. Her body is slanted with her hip shifted to the side giving her a sexy pose while her shoulders and angel wings are down and loose adding to the comfort and body confidence she has while she finishes cleansing herself. The body may be showing her back, but her face is pointed down towards her boobs and genitals which helps resemble the pleasure she gives to herself. The three images make the statement that a woman from any class level has the power to find confidence and pleasure in themselves even when doing a simple task like cleansing their body both physically and metaphorically.

Degas, Edgar. Woman in a Tub. 1886. Hill-Stead Museum, Farmington, CT. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Edgar_Degas#/media/File:Edgar_Germain_Hilaire_Degas_032.jpg. Accessed 5 Jan 2023. 69.9 X 69.9 cm

Tepidarium Lawrence Alma-Tadema (1836-1912).jpg." Wikimedia Commons. 30 Nov 2022, 10:01 UTC. 24 Feb 2025, 06:23 <https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?title=File:Tepidarium_Lawrence_Alma-Tadema_(1836-1912).jpg&oldid=711080347>.    24 X 33 cm

Edgar Degas. After the Bath, Woman with a Towel. 1893-1897 Wikimedia Commons, commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:After_the_Bath_Woman_with_a_Towel_by_Edgar_Degas.jpeg. Accessed 4 Mar. 2025. 827 x 599 pixels