The artwork titled “Return from the Harvest” was created by William-Adolphe Bouguereau around the year 1878. Executed in oil on canvas, the painting adheres to the Academicism movement and is classified as a genre painting. With dimensions of 241.3 by 170.18 centimeters, the artwork is housed at the Cummer Museum of Art and Gardens in Jacksonville, FL, US.
“Return from the Harvest” beautifully captures a moment of pastoral life that features a group of people returning from a day’s labor in the fields. At the center of the composition is a young, unclothed child seated on a donkey, surrounded by adults dressed in rustic attire. One woman, positioned behind the donkey, appears to be directing the child’s attention, while another, standing at the donkey’s side, holds a stick that guides the animal. On the left, a young man and another figure, possibly engaging in a joyful celebration, play musical instruments, adding a sense of festivity to the scene. The soft lighting and meticulous attention to detail in the figures’ clothing and expressions reflect Bouguereau’s mastery in creating lifelike, idealized human forms. The backdrop, with its warm, sunlit tones and lush foliage, complements the serene and harmonious mood of the painting, making it a timeless depiction of rural life.
