The artwork titled “In Penitence,” created by William-Adolphe Bouguereau in 1895, is an oil-on-canvas painting belonging to the Academicism art movement. This portrait measures 77.5 x 131 cm and is currently held in a private collection.
The artwork portrays a young girl standing barefoot against a wall, evoking a sense of modesty and innocence. She is dressed in a simple, light-colored dress, and her delicate features are framed by loose, wavy hair tied with a bow. The girl’s right hand covers part of her face, suggesting an element of shyness or perhaps remorse, while her left hand holds a piece of bread, adding a humble touch to the scene. The backdrop features a muted palette with subtle details of a column, some green foliage, and a whitewashed wall, emphasizing the purity and simplicity of the setting. Bouguereau’s meticulous attention to detail and his masterful rendering of the human form and textures are evident in this serene and evocative composition.
