From book: This complete painting of 1891 depicts two statuesque women lazing on a Tahitian beach, both self-absorbed and silent. The scene is timeless and languorous. The background is made up of bands of flat color dividing the canvas vertically and pushing the figures foreword, emphasizing their monumental solidity. These bands of color are featured all round the sweater. Gauguin’s work lends itself well to the bright chunky cottons used in these designs.