Artwork Page for The Lovers

Details / Information for The Lovers

The Lovers

1872

James Tissot

(French, 1836–1902)
Culture
France, 19th century
Medium
oil on canvas
Measurements
Unframed: 101 x 61.5 cm (39 3/4 x 24 3/16 in.)
Credit Line
Partial gift from Ralph and Terry Kovel and Family, and partial purchase from the John L. Severance Fund 2022.140
Public Domain
You can copy, modify, and distribute this work, all without asking permission. Learn more about CMA's Open Access Initiative.
Location
220 19th Century European
Print
?

Did You Know?

James Tissot was close friends with Edgar Degas, Édouard Manet, and Berthe Morisot, but declined Degas’s invitation to participate in the first Impressionist exhibition of 1874.

Description

James Tissot lived in London in 1871–82 where he established a reputation as painter of elegantly dressed women in modern, fashionable settings. This painting, made at the beginning of his London period, was designed to appeal to Victorian audiences who enjoyed art that hinted at narrative. Here, a young couple enters an upholstered interior, leaving a sunlit garden. The woman’s gesture suggests contemplation; might she be considering a proposal made by the man who follows closely behind her? Their exchange, ultimately, remains mysterious.
A vertically oriented oil painting depicts a woman and man with light skin tones standing on the threshold of an open French door, lush manicured gardens behind them. The woman, wearing a dress that rounds at the hips and flares at the bottom, clasps her hands in front of her, pointer fingers pressed to her bottom lip. The man wears a tailored suit and stands close behind her, eyes turned down toward the back of her head.

The Lovers

1872

James Tissot

(French, 1836–1902)
France, 19th century

See Also

Visually Similar by AI

    Shop the CMA Store

    Shop More Art

    Contact Us

    The information about this object, including provenance, may not be currently accurate. If you notice a mistake or have additional information about this object, please fill out the appropriate request form linked below:

    Update or Correct Artwork Information

    Imagery or Rights for Non-Open-Access Artworks

    Report a Website Issue

    Further Questions About This Artwork