The artwork titled “It’s Sweet Doing Nothing” by John William Waterhouse was created in the year 1879. Employing oil on canvas as his medium, Waterhouse crafted a piece that is representative of the Romanticism movement. The artwork measures 49.53 x 36.51 cm and falls into the genre painting category. Currently, it resides within a private collection, suggesting its acquisition by an individual or institution that prefers to keep it away from the public eye.
The artwork in question depicts a relaxed solitary figure, languidly reclining on a plush patterned carpet. The person appears in respite, seemingly lost in thought or perhaps a daydream, as they gaze upwards and their hand delicately grasps a flower. Subtle contrasts in the artwork are created by the use of light and shadow, illuminating the figure and the immediate surroundings while casting the background into a relative obscurity. The domestic tranquility of the scene is punctuated by the presence of a single blooming flower, adding a touch of nature’s simple beauty to the serene indoor setting. The viewer can observe details such as the soft folds of the fabric, the textural differences between the various materials depicted, and the relaxed posture and expression of the figure, evoking a sense of peaceful contemplation.
