19th-century

Fauna japonica Pl.141 (1833-1850)

Philipp Franz Balthasar von Siebold (German, 1796–1866)

Delicate engravings reveal Japan’s wildlife with scientific precision—each feather, scale, and leaf rendered in crisp detail. A rare glimpse into an ecosystem preserved on paper.
A Ray of Sunlight (1898)

John White Alexander (American, 1856–1915)

A woman bathed in golden light turns slightly, her face half-hidden. The sun catches the folds of her dress, casting soft shadows that seem to breathe. There’s a quiet intensity in her averted gaze—something unspoken, lingering just beyond the frame.
Girl with a pomegranate (1875)

William Bouguereau (French, 1825–1905)

A young girl cradles a split pomegranate, its ruby seeds spilling into her palm. Her gaze holds quiet intensity, the fruit’s juice staining her fingertips. The folds of her dress catch the light, soft against the ripe weight in her hands. Something unspoken lingers between her and the broken fruit.
The Bookworm (circa 1851)

Carl Spitzweg (German, 1808–1885)

A hunched figure perches precariously on a ladder, utterly absorbed in his book. Towering shelves crammed with volumes surround him, their spines glowing in warm lamplight. One slippered foot dangles absentmindedly as he leans deeper into the pages, oblivious to the world beyond his literary cocoon.
Abbildungen zu Oken’s Allgemeiner Naturgeschichte für alle Stände Pl.026 (1841)

Lorenz Oken (German, unknown)

Delicate veins branch across translucent leaves, each curve etched with precision. A hidden world unfolds in the cross-section of stems, revealing nature’s intricate architecture. The lines blur between science and art, where every detail pulses with quiet purpose.
‘einzug’ (The Arrival)

Franz Xaver Simm (Austrian, 1853–1918)

A lone rider emerges from the forest, his horse’s breath misting in the cold air. Sunlight breaks through the trees, glinting off armor and damp leaves. The quiet tension of an approaching moment hangs in the stillness—something is about to change.
Pensive

Alfred Stevens (Belgian, 1823–1906)

A woman lost in thought, her quiet expression and delicate features illuminated by soft light, conveying deep introspection.
Landscape with a Farmhouse and a Peasant Wheeling a Barrow (1865)

Léon Bonvin (French, 1834–1866)

A humble countryside scene where a peasant struggles with a heavy barrow, framed by a weathered farmhouse under brooding skies.
The Little Shepherdess (1868-72)

Jean-François Millet (French, 1814–1875)

A solitary girl tends her sheep in a windswept field, embodying quiet strength and the rhythms of rural life.