Meditation, late 19th century french school

Circle of Léon Lhermitte (1844-1925)

Meditation

Oil on canvas
32 x 24 cm

This painting depicts an old man seated on a chair, his hands clasped in his lap, his gaze lowered, pensive, even tired. To his left, a young woman sits on the floor, her head resting on her hand, gazing into space.

The atmosphere is calm, melancholic, almost meditative. This figurative oil on canvas is similar to the naturalist tradition of the 19th century. The palette is sober, dominated by dark, earthy tones, with a subtle light concentrated on the faces and hands.

This work can be placed in the circle of Léon Lhermitte (1844-1925), a French painter well known for his rural scenes, peasants, and domestic interiors. Lhermitte was admired for his ability to capture the simple dignity of ordinary people, which can easily be felt in this small, intimate painting.