In her work Claire Tabouret often depicts groups of young girls as a way of exploring the idea of female childhood identity. Here, in The Swim Lesson, Tabouret paints nine girls dressed in swimming gear--posing as if for a summer camp photo. While the ages, heights, and personalities of the children all differ, one thing they appear to have in common is a mild annoyance at having to stand motionless in their wet swimsuits while their photo is being taken. We can imagine too the various cliques, bonds, and jealousies that often take place amongst a group of children. The figure on the viewer’s right dons a blue swimsuit and a white cap; her hands resting on her hips; staring at something out of frame as if she is bored. In fact, many of the figures appear to be focused on something aside from the photographer; their eyes, and attentions, wandering off as they wait.