The Shepherdess

"The Shepherdess" also known as "The Little Shepherdess" is a captivating painting by William-Adolphe Bouguereau, completed in 1889. The title derives from a dialect spoken in Southern France. This artwork exquisitely depicts a tranquil rural scene featuring a young woman dressed in simple peasant attire. She stands barefoot, holding a stick across her shoulders, with oxen grazing in the background.

This piece is part of Bouguereau's series that highlights shepherdesses; he produced another painting with the same title in 1881. The model in "The Shepherdess" was a familiar presence in Bouguereau's works, also appearing in his painting "The Bohemian."

Today, "The Shepherdess" is proudly exhibited at the Philbrook Museum of Art in Tulsa. It has become an emblematic image for the museum and was a focal point of a 2006 traveling exhibition centered on Bouguereau and his students, organized by the Philbrook Museum.