Falling Leaves, Allegory of Autumn 1872

Hugues Merle painted "Falling Leaves, Allegory of Autumn" using oil on canvas. We see a fair-skinned woman standing almost centrally, her gaze directed slightly off to the left. She wears a diaphanous drape of dark material with silver vertical stripes which suggests both modesty and the revealing of form. The composition is structured around a stark contrast between light and shadow, a technique known as chiaroscuro, heightening the dramatic effect. The limited grayscale palette focuses our attention on the tonal variations and the fall of light on the figure's skin and the surrounding foliage. The presence of a cherubic figure in the background introduces a layer of complexity. Merle’s piece speaks to broader philosophical concerns about mortality and beauty, capturing the fleeting nature of life, much like the falling leaves.