Interrupted Reading by Jean-Baptiste-Camille Corot - 1865–1875 - 92.5 × 65.1 cm Art Institute of Chicago Interrupted Reading by Jean-Baptiste-Camille Corot - 1865–1875 - 92.5 × 65.1 cm Art Institute of Chicago

Interrupted Reading

oil on canvas • 92.5 × 65.1 cm
  • Jean-Baptiste-Camille Corot - July 16, 1796 - February 22, 1875 Jean-Baptiste-Camille Corot 1865–1875

Interrupted Reading is among the most compelling of Camille Corot’s late figure paintings. Corot almost never exhibited these studies of the human form, preferring instead to publicize the idyllic landscapes that were his specialty. To emphasize the private nature of Interrupted Reading, Corot enclosed his model within the protective environment of the artist’s studio.

The mood of the painting is introspective and somewhat melancholic, the very essence of the Romantic sensibility. The muse-like image of a woman reading a book was a popular one in 19th-century art, but Corot chose to show his model pausing, looking up from this activity. Having spent several years in Italy and being a lover of everything Italian, the artist often furnished his models with Italianate costumes such as the one worn here. Whereas Corot’s subject matter is traditional, his technique is not. With direct and bold brushwork, he explored the human form as a construction of masses that support and balance one another. This broad handling is complemented by the artist’s obvious delight in detail, including the ribbon in the model’s hair, the delicate earrings, and the deep folds in the skirt. Here he combined a profound sense of formal structure with the dreamy softness and intimacy that characterize his most famous landscapes.

P.S. I am curious what she is reading but it doesn't seem to be an entertaining book. Here we have listed for you some books about art for holiday chill that  definitely won't bore you!