William-Adolphe Bouguereau painting Nymphs and Satyr depicts a satyr being dragged away by three nymphs into a woodland pond, while a fourth calls to her companion in the distance. In Greek mythology, satyrs are lustful creatures who cannot swim and nymphs were known for their grace and beauty. However, the gender roles are reversed, the satyr is overwhelmed by the unbridled feminine power. In this scene, the nymphs are believed to have bathed before they catch the satyr spying on them as they frolic. He undoubtedly startled as there appears to be three more nymphs hiding to the right in the background of the composition. The depiction of dominant female sexuality over the satyr who symbolizes traditional masculinity makes the painting highly controversial. Bouguereau captures an incredible sense of motion in this piece; one can feel the struggle of the hapless satyr and the nymphs' joyous struggle to pull him in. He was known for hyper-realistic renderings of the human body, mythological scenes, allegorical subjects. Ultimately, this painting an allegorical scene of role reversal from Greek mythology.

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