The Repose

This painting, The Repose, was initially created by Corot around 1860 and later reworked between 1865 and 1870. It is a harmonious blend of Corot's two great passions: the nude figure and the lyrical landscape.

This work comes from the artist's mature style, where his soft, silvery palette is applied to a classical subject, often titled Bacchante with Tambourine or Le Repos. The nude woman reclines in a sunny field against a mound of grass, gazing back at the viewer. Her presence, while mythological in inspiration, is treated with the same quiet honesty and atmospheric light that defines his landscapes.

The painting evokes a sense of deep calm and introspective peace. Corot’s blended strokes and soft, diffused light merge the figure and the natural setting, inviting the viewer into a moment of pure, tranquil rest.