Corot, Jean-Baptiste-Camille (1796-1875)
Jeune femme pensive (Pensive Young Woman)
1855–1860
Oil on panel mounted to plywood, 31.8 × 23.7 cm
Barnes Foundation, Philadelphia
While landscapes had become a more lucrative endeavor, Corot continued to paint figures in the studio, mostly out of pure enjoyment. He dressed his Parisian models in Greek or Italianate costumes, infusing them with mystery and melancholy. With their simple backgrounds and limited color palette, the majority of his figure paintings speak to a lyrical past rather than a modern moment. (BF)