“Love on the Look,” an allegorical painting by William-Adolphe Bouguereau, was created in 1891 using oil on canvas. The artwork, measuring 77.5 x 131 cm, is characteristic of the Academicism art movement.
The artwork portrays a young, winged Cupid, a mythological figure often symbolizing love. Seated gracefully on a stone bench in an idyllic garden setting, Cupid gazes intently at a butterfly he holds aloft. The soft, delicate rendering of the figure’s skin contrasts with the detailed, lush foliage in the background. Bouguereau’s use of light and shadow, along with his meticulous attention to texture and form, imbues the composition with a serene and almost ethereal quality. Through refined technique and idealized imagery, the painting captures a moment of gentle introspection and innocence.
