You Can't Unsee This Painting

Why is this woman holding a log dressed in a bonnet wrapped in a blanket? This piece is called The Lunatic of Étretat by Hugues Merle. Is she mourning the loss of a child? Or maybe she’s longing for one. Merle created this piece in 1871, the same year France lost the Franco-Prussian War. Could this woman's pain represent a broader political sentiment of devastation and loss? Could this have to do with the perception of mental health in the 19th century? Thanks for watching!
Merle is considered somewhat of a forgotten artist; someone who was very well-known and regarded during his life but has largely fallen away in time. But I think we need to change that! His art is amazing!
#arthistory #art #classicart #fineart
Credits:
Arcadia Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com)
Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 License
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Cloud special effect from Vecteezy