Recess 1834

"Recess" (1834) is a lithograph by Alexandre-Gabriel Decamps, a celebrated French painter and printmaker known for his Orientalist and genre scenes. This work depicts a poignant moment of rest and camaraderie between two young boys, one resting his head on the other's lap as they sit by a wall. Decamps' masterful use of shading and detail captures the boys' weary expressions and the rugged environment, highlighting the realities of life for children in 19th-century France. The lithograph, now housed in the Metropolitan Museum of Art, is a testament to Decamps' talent for portraying everyday life with empathy and visual power.