Workers, Gazers, Bathers: Modern Male Bodies in Caillebotte’s Paintings

SummaryThis article analyses Gustave Caillebotte’s representations of the modern male body across three main contexts: scenes of labor, urban spectatorship, and bathing, examining how his art redefines masculinity within the visual culture of late nineteenth-century modernity. Employing visual analysis in dialogue with theories of gender and embodiment, the study argues that Caillebotte articulates a modern, indeterminate masculinity – one not grounded in fixed identity or heroic display but produced through specific visual contexts and bodily practices. It begins by analyzing how male bodies are depicted in relation to work, focusing on physical exertion and the organization of labor. It then turns to male back views, considering how masculinity is constructed through acts of gazing and positioning within the modern city. Finally, it explores representations of bathing and private space, addressing issues of self-care, intimacy, and bodily attention. By situating masculinity within diverse actions and environment, Caillebotte reconstructs masculinity as a procedural practice of labor, maintenance, and self-attention.