“Meditation,” painted by William-Adolphe Bouguereau in 1885, is an oil on canvas artwork measuring 86.4 x 132.1 cm. This piece, exemplifying the Academicism movement, is housed at the Joslyn Art Museum in Omaha, Nebraska. The painting portrays a young girl seated on a stone block amidst a natural setting. She is dressed in a traditional peasant outfit with a white blouse, brown vest, and blue skirt, her head adorned with a yellow headscarf. The girl’s expression and posture convey a sense of quiet reflection, enhanced by the lush, verdant background and soft lighting. Bouguereau’s meticulous attention to detail and lifelike rendering create a serene and introspective atmosphere, inviting viewers to ponder the thoughts and emotions of the young girl.
