L'enfant a la toupie 

Pericles Pantazis painted “L'enfant a la toupie,” or “Child with a Top,” using oil on canvas. Pantazis, a Greek painter, spent much of his career in Belgium and France, absorbing the burgeoning impressionist style, which favored intimate scenes from everyday life. In this portrait, the boy appears lost in concentration, a moment of childhood reverie that speaks to the era's shifting perspectives on children and childhood. The painting’s charm lies in the intimate portrayal of its subject. The rosy cheeks and slightly disheveled cap suggest a real, rather than idealized, child. There’s an interesting tension between the boy's humble attire and his light skin, hinting at social class complexities. The painting captures a universal experience of childhood, a moment of solitary play and introspection. Pantazis’s choice to depict this quiet scene reflects a broader interest in the individual and the personal, mirroring the changing social and cultural values of the time.