María Švarbová // In The Swimming Pool
- Felipe Rodríguez-Mattern
- 4 days ago
- 2 min read
María Švarbová has cemented her place in contemporary photography with In the Swimming Pool, a series that has been the subject of analysis and praise from specialized critics. Her work stands out for its meticulous composition, an ethereal color palette, and an atmosphere that oscillates between nostalgia and emotional detachment, shaping a distinctly recognizable visual universe.
Photography by María Švarbová © 2014
Texts & Content Curation by
Felipe Rodríguez-Mattern.
The Aesthetic of Detachment
The series aligns with an aesthetic that transcends mere documentary representation. The choreographed arrangement of the models, their lack of expression, and the geometric precision of the environment evoke a sense of detachment—almost alienation. For some critics, In the Swimming Pool offers a reinterpretation of individuality within spaces designed for collectivity, transforming the pool into a stage for near-metaphysical contemplation.
Compositional Rigor and Pictorial Evocation
The influence of movements such as Constructivism and Bauhaus is evident in her formal approach. Švarbová employs symmetry, refined lines, and a compositional precision reminiscent of Edward Hopper’s painterly exactitude or the visual language of socialist realism posters (if you haven’t seen The Brutalist, highly recommended). Each image becomes a study in form and color, where the human presence is merely another element within the composition rather than the narrative focal point.
An Aesthetic Between Retrofuturism and Timelessness
The series appropriates the socialist architecture of Eastern Europe, reclaiming its functional spaces without succumbing to nostalgic glorification. The deliberately subdued color palette and the omnipresent sense of stillness create an ambiguous temporality—her images could belong to a stylized past or a dystopian future. This interplay with the perception of time has been key to its visual and conceptual impact.
Emotional Minimalism and the Subversion of Human Expression
Unlike traditional fashion photography, which often exalts gesture and dynamism, Švarbová opts for gestural neutrality and uniformity in her models’ postures. This stylistic choice not only enhances the series' cohesion but also reinforces a sense of controlled choreography, where individuality seems to dissolve into the aesthetics of repetition.
Impact and Legacy in Contemporary Visual Culture
The influence of In the Swimming Pool has extended beyond the realm of artistic photography, permeating the imaginaries of fashion, advertising, and graphic design. Its visual language has been embraced by brands and creatives seeking to evoke the same atmosphere of geometric purity and restrained dreaminess. Švarbová’s ability to elicit a visceral response from the viewer—through refined beauty and a profound sense of order—cements her relevance in today’s artistic landscape.
Ultimately, In the Swimming Pool is not merely a photographic series; it is a visual manifesto that challenges the relationship between the individual and architectural space, between nostalgia and contemporary sterility. María Švarbová has crafted a body of work of striking aesthetic sophistication, where calculated coldness both captivates and unsettles in equal measure.
María was born in1988 in Slovakia.