Interrupted 1880

"Interrupted," painted in 1880 by Lawrence Alma-Tadema, depicts a woman caught mid-read. The woman, with her hair adorned with a decorative band and a lace collar, is shown in a close-up composition. This intimacy draws the viewer into the moment, emphasizing the interruption of her reading, perhaps by a visitor or a sudden sound. Alma-Tadema, known for his meticulous detail and romanticized depictions of ancient Roman and Greek life, captures the quiet interiority of the scene in this masterful portrait.