Circle of Léon LHERMITTE
 (1844-1925)

 The meditation

 Oil on canvas
 32 x 24 cm

This painting depicts an old man sitting on a chair, his hands clasped in his lap, his gaze lowered, pensive, even tired. To his left, a young girl sits on the floor, her head resting on her hand, gazing into space. The atmosphere is calm, melancholic, almost meditative. 

This figurative oil on canvas is similar to the naturalist tradition of the late 19th century. The palette is sober, dominated by dark, earthy hues, with a subtle light focused on the faces and hands. 

This work can be placed in the circle of Léon Lhermitte (1844-1925), a French painter well known for his rural scenes, peasants, and domestic interiors. Lhermitte was admired for his ability to capture the simple dignity of ordinary people, a sentiment easily captured in this small, intimate painting.