The Father's Leave-Taking
1879
From the collection of Cleveland Museum of Art
1879
From the collection of Cleveland Museum of Art
The Father's Leave-Taking is a 1879 by William Holman Hunt, a Impressionism work, held at Cleveland Museum of Art.
This print shows a woman kneeling on the floor, hugging a small child. She’s dressed in loose, flowing clothes, and her face looks sad. The child clings to her, one hand raised as if reaching for something. Behind them, a dark doorway and a tall column frame the scene, making the two figures stand out. The artist paid close attention to the folds in the woman’s clothes and the child’s tiny hand. The contrast between light and shadow adds depth to the moment. Next, look up William Holman Hunt to see how he used real-life details in his work.
