Le Livre D’heures 1867

"Le Livre D’heures" was painted in 1887 by William Bouguereau. It depicts a young woman absorbed in a book of hours, a Christian devotional text popular among the literate. Painted during the French Third Republic, this image reflects the era's complex relationship with religion and education. We see Bouguereau depicting the young woman with a delicate balance between innocence and burgeoning awareness, characteristic of the period’s sentimental portrayals of women. Her clothing, suggestive of regional costume, offers a glimpse into the period’s evolving sense of national identity and the romanticization of rural life. Bouguereau’s emphasis on her engagement with the book hints at the growing importance of education for women, and suggests a narrative of empowerment through literacy.