Laughter. William Strang. 1912. Oil on canvas. 122 x 122 cm. Source: Furst 177 (measurements from the artnet auction site). The startling juxtaposition of the nude woman and children with their clothed companions reminds us of Manet's Le Déjeuner sur l’herbe (1863), so this is not a particularly original idea, but the contrast is still striking — and the younger girl has thrown back her covering, to challenge the viewer quite cheekily. The "naturists" revel in their freedom, and the title goes well with the evident exhilaration of the central figure. Intriguingly, clothed or unclothed, all the members of the group have bare feet. Soon, perhaps they will all disrobe. Walking through idyllic countryside, they seem to be in sight of their destination.
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Bibliography
Furst, Herbert. "The Paintings of William Strang." The International Studio, Vol. 72 (November 1920-February 1921): 171-77. Intenet Archive. Contributed by Robarts Library, University of Toronto. Web. 8. August 2020.
Created 9 August 2020