Juxtaposing a mountain range in the style of Yamato-e painting of the Heian period (794-1185), luxuriant pine trees reminiscent of wall paintings of the Momoyama period (1568-1600), and a sensual woman dressed in bright red reminding us of Pierre-Auguste Renoir, Bakusen producedServing Girl at a Spa in sympathy and consultation with different styles of various times and places. This piece was sent to the first exhibition organized by the Kokuga Sosaku Kyokai (National Creative Painting Association), a group of artists that challenged the dominance of the Bunten (Ministry of Education Fine Arts Exhibition).
An intellectual integration of natural and feminine beauty—landscape and figure painting in fusion—Serving Girl at a Spa was an ambitious work by young Bakusen who aimed to create new modern Japanese-style painting free from traditions and conventions.

(Designated an Important Cultural Property on June 7, 1999)