Though universally acclaimed in the nineteenth century, Bouguereau and his paintings fell into oblivion immediately after his death and remained in oblivion for almost a hundred years until recently.
He is the master at showing us the joy, frustration, marvel, imagination, vigor, and whimsy of childhood.
His great counterpart is Rembrandt, who shows us the realities of old age.
One might think that Bouguereau’s paintings of children would be different from Rembrandt’s paintings of the aged. And they are, especially in their coloring.
But look at the expressions!
How like children these old people are!
How like old people, the children!
* Orlando Bartro is the author of Toward Two Words, a comical & surreal novel about a man who loves yet another woman he never knew. Find your copy at Amazon. Hardcover, paperback, and e-book editions available.
https://www.amazon.com/Toward-Two-Words-Orlando-Bartro-ebook/dp/B072MNB4F9