Work Interrupted

Work Interrupted depicts a young woman in a white, draped gown seated on a chair on a terrace, with a winged cherub leaning over her shoulder and resting an arm about her neck. She holds a small blue sphere in her right hand, while a wicker basket of colored balls sits nearby and a column and greenery provide a classical backdrop. The painting employs Bouguereau’s polished Academic Realism, with smooth brushwork, luminous pale flesh tones, and a restrained palette of whites, pinks, greens, and browns to create a serene, idealized mood.