Au repos 

Jean-François Millet painted this nude in the mid-19th century, a study in oil on canvas that exudes a sense of introspective repose. The reclining nude is a recurring motif throughout art history. This image harkens back to the classical odalisque, but in Millet's hands, she is stripped of overt eroticism, and infused with a naturalistic sensibility. Consider the arm propping up her head: that specific gesture has roots in depictions of melancholy figures from antiquity, often signifying contemplation or sorrow. In earlier Christian art, this pose may symbolize mourning or deep thought. Yet, here, there’s a sense of quiet solitude rather than overt anguish. It's as if Millet tapped into a deeper, collective memory associated with this gesture. It speaks to our shared human experience of introspection, resonating across epochs. The symbol is reborn, carrying echoes of its past while adapting to the sensibilities of a new era.