The Nut Gatherers by Bouguereau

   All of us have heard about the French Impressionists and how their work was rejected by the Academie when the movement began. So today we have a work by an instructor of the Academie des Beaux in Paris, William-Adolphe Bouguereau (1825-1905).  This painting is The Nut Gatherers, from 1882, mid to late in Bouguereau's career.  It is an oil on canvas, part of the permanent collection of the Detroit Institute of Art, gift of Mrs William E. Scripps.  It measures 44 x 62.
    Bouguereau's was made famous for his main body of work featuring modern interpretations of classical subjects, usually highlighting the female nude.  This painting is an exception.  Here we have two lovely young girls in a sweet, sentimental pose. Their closeness and bare feet are to show the bond of friendship and the vulnerability of their youth.  It was painted in studio and the background trees perfectly serve the purpose of highlighting them.  If an impressionist had done this work, it would have been painted out-of-doors in natural light where the forest would be a wider range of color, maybe even making the subjects less important. 
   I find this painting very beautiful and compelling.  Yes, very sentimental, but well executed.  I think we often need a little more sweetness in our lives, so today I give you two lovely French girls.
   Make Art a part of your day, it's a beautiful thing to do. 
   

Comments

  1. charguthDecember 6, 2019 at 8:22 AM

    I love looking at this relaxing, intimate moment, especially on a cold winter day!! The skin tones are beautiful, and even highlighted by the stark white shirts. The background is so soft and loose and lets us focus on the girls. They may be sisters, or not, but they are enjoying a special time together. It almost seems like a confidential setting.

    ReplyDelete
  2. Art Expert On LineDecember 10, 2019 at 6:34 AM

    I agree, they could easily be sisters, but it doesn't matter for they are definitely close. And, their intimacy does provide a clue that maybe their discussion is very confidential.....not for us viewers to hear, but wonderful to see. May we all have such close family or friends.

    ReplyDelete

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