The Oreads

Bouguereau’s The Oreads presents a dense, diagonally arranged surge of nude nymphs cascading from a rocky ledge into a sunlit pool, with a few figures mid-flight and others clustered in the lower foreground. A dark forest and a pale, atmospheric sky with a crescent moon form the backdrop, contrasting with the luminous flesh tones of the figures and the green of the water and vegetation. The work exemplifies Bouguereau’s polished academic style: precise anatomy, smooth, almost invisible brushwork, and a restrained, pastel palette that emphasizes idealized classical beauty.