After the Dance 1876

John William Waterhouse's *After the Dance* (1876) depicts a scene of quiet intimacy. A young woman lies languidly on a cushion, her head resting on the lap of a seated youth. The setting, an ancient Roman courtyard, evokes a sense of history and grandeur. The figures’ classical garb and the faint glimpse of dancers in the background suggest a revel that has just ended, leaving the couple to enjoy a private moment of connection. This work, characteristic of Waterhouse's Pre-Raphaelite style, combines historical realism with a dreamlike atmosphere, emphasizing beauty, emotion, and symbolism.