Why Is This Woman Pinching the Nipple of the Other?
Decoding a painting of two sisters in a bathtub
It is hard not to be intrigued by a painting like this. It shows two women sitting unclothed in a bathtub. The one on the right is named Gabrielle d’Estrées. Beside her is another woman — thought to be her sister — who is unambiguously pinching her nipple.
Given their coiffured hair and sparkling pearl drop earrings, it is fairly clear that they belong to the aristocracy — which is all the more reason to be surprised at their nude depiction.
This fascinating painting remains one of the most famous works of French art, and yet very little is known about its making: the artist behind the work can only be guessed at, and the commissioning patron is unknown.
As for its meaning, historians have long questioned the gesture of the nipple pinch, and have come to some surprising conclusions.
The Setting and Background
Both women are shown naked from the waist up. They are sat inside a bathtub that is covered in cloth or silk. Bathtubs of old were typically made of metal or wood, and were often lined with fabric to prevent the heat of the metal from burning or a rogue splinter from the wood. It was all about comfort.
