Return from the Harvest 1878

"Return from the Harvest" (1878) by William Bouguereau depicts a joyous scene of a group of young people returning home from a day of work. The painting, now housed at the Cummer Museum of Art and Gardens in Jacksonville, Florida, exemplifies Bouguereau's mastery of Academic Realism. The artist's meticulous attention to detail is evident in the depiction of the figures' clothing, the donkey's fur, and the surrounding landscape, which is bathed in the soft light of the setting sun. The painting's subject matter, depicting the simple pleasures of rural life, was popular with audiences of the late 19th century, and continues to resonate with viewers today.