The artwork titled “Soup,” created by William-Adolphe Bouguereau in 1865, is rendered in oil on canvas and exemplifies the Academicism movement. This portrait, measuring 57.2 by 73.7 cm, portrays a serene scene and resides in a private collection.
The artwork depicts a young girl sitting on a wooden stool, gazing directly at the viewer with a gentle expression on her face. She holds a spoon in her right hand, poised above a bowl of soup that rests on her lap. The girl is adorned in a simple white blouse and a deep red skirt, indicative of the modest, classical attire of the period. Bouguereau’s meticulous technique is evident in the delicate rendering of the girl’s skin and hair, as well as the lifelike textures of the fabric and the reflective surface of the bowl. The dark, neutral background emphasizes the subject, directing the viewer’s focus entirely onto the girl’s expressive face and the quiet moment she inhabits, highlighting the artist’s mastery in capturing human emotion and detail.
