William-Adolphe Bouguereau painted the artwork entitled Vendangeuse, most commonly known as The Grape Picker in 1875. The artist based his painting on the past master Raphael and even concluded a copy of his masterpiece The Triumph of Galatea. Bouguereau had a classical approach to his artistic production, especially with the subjects he portrayed, along with the form and composition. The painter is most known for his portrayal of the female figure – portraits or sensual nudes.

It was during this period that Bouguereau concluded his most praised artworks. The classical painter was featured in the prestigious Paris Salon during his whole career and was considered the best painter of the Classic Academy of the time. In 1875, he started working on La Rochelle chapel ceiling with his assistants – a project that lasted six years – as well as his most significant religious artwork entitled Pieta. Although Bouguereau had impeccable technique, not everyone was a fan of his work, like the Impressionists. These avant-guard modern painters were often rejected from the Paris Salon because they went against traditional rules imposed by the Academies. The Impressionists were no longer interested in idealized mythological subjects portrayed realistically – but Bouguereau was.

In Vendangeuse, the artist paints a portrait of a young and humble grape picker. Bouguereau’s impeccable oil technique and sensibility give soul to the figures he portrays. The girl is holding a wooden basket filled with bunches of green and purple grapes, and because of the weight, she counterbalances by slightly leaning back. The painter’s knowledge of anatomy allows for a convincing posture, where her right arm is stretched out holding the side of the basket, and her other arm is bent with her hand clutching the handle. The model faces the viewer, rotating her neck forward as her body is slightly turned to the side.

Bouguereau used contrasting features to give this artwork a beautiful appeal. The bright red fabric wrapped around the girl’s hair complements the overall green of the background vegetation. The artist also contrasts light and dark – the area behind the model’s head is the darkest of the background, featuring her light and porcelain-like skin. The painter used shades of green, brown, and ochre to create a natural atmosphere. His attention to detail is extraordinary, like in the texture of the skin and the folds of her shirt.