The Elder Sister, reduction (La soeur aînée, réduction)

The Elder Sister, reduction (La sœur aînée, réduction) presents a young woman holding a naked toddler in her arms, set against a dark, almost black background. The elder sister wears a white blouse with a blue sash and a red drape, while the child clings to her and a rosary hangs from her grasp, creating an intimate, vertically oriented composition focused on the figures. The painting exhibits Bouguereau's refined Academic style, with flawless, softly blended flesh tones, smooth brushwork, and a calm, contemplative mood achieved through controlled lighting and tonal harmony.