Les Agneaux 1897

Editor: Here we have William Bouguereau’s "Les Agneaux" painted in 1897. It's an oil painting depicting a woman carrying a baby and a lamb. There’s almost an ethereal quality to it, but something about the bare feet feels grounded. How do you interpret this work? Curator: Let’s consider the social and material context in which Bouguereau was working. He was hugely popular, and that popularity stemmed in part from his adherence to academic standards. Notice the smooth finish of the oil paint, almost mimicking the texture of skin and wool. The artist’s skill and labor are very evident. Editor: So, you're focusing on the materiality and production rather than a symbolic reading? Curator: Precisely. Think about the consumption of art in the late 19th century. Bouguereau's paintings were highly sought after by wealthy patrons who valued skill and idealized representations. These idyllic genre scenes, while seemingly innocent, reinforced societal values and class structures. The artist, therefore, served the purpose of social elites. Do you agree that by displaying the family alongside the lamb in the title, the artist has equated labor, motherhood and childhood innocence as desirable social virtues? Editor: I see your point about societal values. However, it makes me wonder, isn't it also possible that viewers at the time saw these women as ordinary and representative of the work expected for women in the 19th century? Curator: Exactly, which shows how academic painting reinforces norms through its very material being, as something that requires laborious traditional practice, resulting in the art becoming a coveted commodity. Editor: I hadn’t thought about it that way. Looking at how labor, social expectation, and traditional painting come together to create such a piece helps me to better understand Bouguereau's intent in painting "Les Agneaux.”