The Little Shepherdess 1892

"The Little Shepherdess" is an 1892 oil painting by Canadian artist Paul Peel. The work depicts a nude woman, her back to the viewer, seated by a river, with her feet dipping into the water. Her pose is relaxed and contemplative, highlighting her beauty and the idyllic setting. The artist's use of soft light and colors creates a dreamlike atmosphere, while the inclusion of a shepherd's crook, a cloak, and a flock of sheep in the distance hints at the young woman's pastoral life. This iconic work, now in the collection of the Art Gallery of Ontario, captures the essence of Romanticism with its idealized depiction of nature and the human figure.