The teaser of the narghile* by Jean-Léon Gérôme

This masterly work is fully part of the academic and Orientalist movement, a genre highly in vogue in France in the nineteenth century. The famous painter Gérôme Jean-Léon explores once again the sensual and intimate world of oriental baths with remarkable delicacy. The painting entitled “The teaser of the narghile” depicts a group of women relaxing around a large pool in a setting of great richness. This artistic creation testifies to the artist’s continuous fascination with exoticism and the beauty of female bodies.

In the foreground, a young completely naked woman is seated from behind on the paved edge of the pool, observing hookahs placed on a colored carpet. In the center of the room, a carved stone fountain spurts thin streams of clear water. In the calm water of the pool, other bathers relax or converse quietly under a portico supported by dark columns. In the background, veiled women on a white marble balustrade observe the scene, reaching out with a fruit. The soft and diffused light envelops the room, creating subtle reflections on the water and on the satin skin of the characters. The composition is organized around the central fountain and the bare bodies.

The painter’s pictorial technique is of remarkable precision, notably in the rendering of moving water and luminous reflections. His absolute mastery of oil paint makes it possible to capture the velvety texture of the skin and the hardness of the marble with exceptional realism. This admirable work highlights the immense talent of the artist.