An artwork on Galleree from Minneapolis Institute of Art.
About the artwork
Temptation1880
Artist: William-Adolphe Bouguereau
French, 1825 - 1905
Mother and child seated in field with tree in background and water in foreground. The mother holds an apple in her hand
39 x 52 in. (99.06 x 132.08 cm) (canvas)
49 1/4 x 61 3/4 x 5 1/2 in. (125.1 x 156.85 x 13.97 cm) (outer frame)
Oil on canvas
Painting
France
19th century
The Putnam Dana McMillan Fund and the M. Knoedler Fund
In the soft embrace of a tranquil afternoon, an artwork unfolds before us—a canvas filled with whispers of knowledge and innocence. It carries a title that dances between meaning and mystery, inviting us to ponder its significance.
At the center, a woman cradles a shiny apple, its surface gleaming in the sun like a promise, evoking echoes of biblical tales. That apple, heavy with the weight of knowledge, suggests a pivot point in her journey, each glint of light revealing layers of wisdom and temptation. Beside her, a child, unblemished by the world’s complexities, embodies pure innocence, a gentle reminder of the purity lost in the throes of adult choices.
This scene unfurls in an outdoor setting, seemingly plucked from the artist Bouguereau's childhood—a coastal town known as La Rochelle, nestled in northern France. The air suddenly thickens with the tang of sea breeze as one imagines the salty waves crashing in the distance, each swell a soft murmur to the stories held within that apple.
The background transforms into an Arcadian dream—a harmonious representation reminiscent of the idyllic landscapes beloved during the seventeenth century. Here, nature unfolds generously, cradling the figures in a lush embrace, stirring within us a longing for simplicity and peace found in pastoral life.
As we stand before this piece, we can't help but feel the quiet interplay of innocence and knowledge, urging us to reflect on our own choices, to remember that within every story lies a duality—one that often beckons us to question, to seek, and ultimately to learn.
About the artist
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