"The Oreads" of 1902 is a fabulous example of the realistic and dynamic depictions of classical subjects by the French painter William Adolphe Bouguereau. He mainly painted scenes that go back to Greek and Roman antiquity, and put them particularly impressive. He painted numerous nudes, including the Oreaden, nymphs of Greek mythology, who live in caves, forests and mountains. The mountain nymphs rise in a bow movement upwards. The scene consists of a large number of nymphs who seem to float above a green lake and move to the sky. In the background is a forest, while male fauns with pointed ears and horns are in the foreground. They turn their backs to the image viewer and look at the nymphs. One of the fauns kneels and has his arms crossed as if in prayer.

The picture lives from a strong color contrast. Forest, lake and foreground are decorated in shades of green. The nymphs and the sky, on the other hand, shimmer in warm golden tones. Since the nymphs are shown naked and their bodies are depicted in numerous perspectives, the scene looks very erotic. Most of the Oreaden have made their arms fly, emphasizing their naked bodies even more. The lighter color scheme of the Oreaden also draws the viewer's gaze towards them. The viewer follows the gaze of the faune to catch a glimpse of the nymphs who may have disappeared at any moment due to their dynamic flight movement. Thus, the painting by Bouguereau expresses the transience of youth and beauty.

Since Bouguereau mainly paints allegorical-classical scenes, he is sublime despite the eroticism of the presentation of any moralizing valuation. The painting is one of his later works and contains everything that makes his painting style so special: exciting color contrasts, photorealistic and erotic female depictions and an extremely dynamic and lively arrangement of the scenery. Today, the original painting is in the Musée d'Orsay in France.

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The Oreads by William Adolphe Bouguereau. Available as an art print on canvas, photo paper, watercolor board, uncoated paper or Japanese paper.
retinue of aphrodite · nymph · female · nude · oread · satyr · oreades · poem by f · humbert · river · lake · crescent moon