Interrupted Reading

Jean Baptiste Camille Corot, c. 1870

Corot rarely exhibited his late figure paintings like this compelling example, focusing instead on his idyllic landscapes. While here he chose a traditional subject—the muse-like image of a woman reading a book—Corot showed his model pausing and looking up. He also used unconventionally bold brushwork while still delighting in detail—the ribbon in the model’s hair, the delicate earrings, and the deep folds in the skirt.

The original is 26 × 36 in. Will it fit your wall? →

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