''Solitude'' is a painting by Thomas Alexander Harrison. It is oil on canvas, 100 cm x 170 cm. The painting was acquired by the French state from the

Salon Salon may refer to: Common meanings * Beauty salon, a venue for cosmetic treatments * French term for a drawing room, an architectural space in a home * Salon (gathering), a meeting for learning or enjoyment Arts and entertainment * Salon (P ...

in 1893 and currently displayed at the

Musée d'Orsay The Musée d'Orsay ( , , ) ( en, Orsay Museum) is a museum in Paris, France, on the Left Bank of the Seine. It is housed in the former Gare d'Orsay, a Beaux-Arts railway station built between 1898 and 1900. The museum holds mainly French art ...

in Paris.

History

After purchase the painting was displayed in the

Musée du Luxembourg The Musée du Luxembourg () is a museum at 19 rue de Vaugirard in the 6th arrondissement of Paris. Established in 1750, it was initially an art museum located in the east wing of the Luxembourg Palace (the matching west wing housed the Marie de' M ...

(1894-1922), then in the

Jeu de Paume ''Jeu de paume'' (, ; originally spelled ; ), nowadays known as real tennis, (US) court tennis or (in France) ''courte paume'', is a ball-and-court game that originated in France. It was an indoor precursor of tennis played without racquets, a ...

(1922-1946) and then in the

Musée National d'Art Moderne The Musée National d'Art Moderne (; "National Museum of Modern Art") is the national museum for modern art of France. It is located in Paris and is housed in the Centre Pompidou in the 4th arrondissement of the city. In 2021 it ranked 10th in ...

(1946-1980). In 1980 it was assigned to the

Louvre The Louvre ( ), or the Louvre Museum ( ), is the world's most-visited museum, and an historic landmark in Paris, France. It is the home of some of the best-known works of art, including the ''Mona Lisa'' and the ''Venus de Milo''. A central l ...

and put on display at the Musée d’Orsay. It was also exhibited in 2015 at the Collection Lambert in Avignon.

Description

In the middle of the painting, an oar, somehow catching the light, rests gently on the surface of a body of water. In the bow stands a naked figure with elbows raised and hands wedged behind their head. The pose, as well as complete nudity, suggests absolute tranquility. In the background there is an indication of a shoreline towards which the figure is looking. Below this line lies the darkness of the water; above it a subtle use of colour suggests some kind of shore covered in dense, shaded foliage, or possibly the interior of a huge cave. The surface of the water is faintly tinted red here and there, with brief flashes of a distant twilight. Above the scene a moon rises.

References

{{reflist 1893 paintings Paintings in the Musée d'Orsay Oil on canvas paintings Allegorical paintings by American artists