“Stop and observe this captivating painting where a nude figure is enveloped by a lush, dreamlike landscape, celebrating themes of nature and renewal with vibrant color and soft brushwork.”
In "Springtime," a lone, nude woman reclines amidst a vibrant, almost dizzying landscape of green trees and dappled light. Her form, rendered with soft contours, is nestled into the abundant foliage, suggesting a deep connection to nature. The painting's title evokes renewal and fertility, themes underscored by the lush, blossoming environment. The artist captures a fleeting moment, perhaps a dream or an allegorical vision, rather than a literal scene. The brushwork, particularly in the leaves and grasses, creates a sense of movement and warmth, drawing the viewer into this intimate, verdant world. This oil on canvas, created around 1889, reflects a period when artists explored personal expression and symbolic narratives through landscape.
- Artist
- Maurice
- Date
- 1889
- Medium
- Oil on canvas
- Location
- The Metropolitan Museum of Art
- Dimensions
- 31 3/4 × 38 1/2 in. (80.6 × 97.8 cm)
- Collection
- Modern and Contemporary Art
- Credit line
- Gift of David Allen Devrishian, 1999
What to Notice
Four details hide in plain sight. Here’s where to look.

The woman's relaxed pose, almost merging with the surrounding leaves.
The bright, almost glowing quality of the green foliage.
The way sunlight filters through the trees, creating patches of light.
The soft, undefined edges of the background, giving a dreamlike feel.
Stand in front of it and listen
The full narration walks you through Springtime — the story behind it, the details most visitors miss, and why it matters. Free in the Art Whisper app.
Maurice
The artist behind vibrant Fauvist street scenes and colorful depictions of Paris and French villages.
Further Works by Maurice
André Derain
1906 · The Metropolitan Museum of Art
Relief
1960 · National Museum in Warsaw
[A.H. Wenzler]
1860 · The Metropolitan Museum of Art
[Eugene Benson]
1860 · The Metropolitan Museum of Art
[Morrell]
1860 · The Metropolitan Museum of Art
Flute Harmonique
1867 · The Metropolitan Museum of Art
Large Boston Public Garden Sketchbook: The Huntington Avenue Streetcar
1895 · The Metropolitan Museum of Art
Self-Portrait
1927 · Philadelphia Museum of Art
More works to explore
Beyond Maurice: works from the same years.
Same era · 1870s–1900s
A Woman Walking in a Garden
Vincent van Gogh · 1887 · Frans Buffa & sons
Same era · 1870s–1900s
A Sunday on La Grande Jatte — 1884
Okada Saburosuke · 1884 · Art Institute of Chicago
Same era · 1870s–1900s
Madame Léon Clapisson
Léon-Victor Dupré · 1883 · Art Institute of Chicago
Same era · 1870s–1900s
Still Life with Crayfish
Mikhail Larionov · 1900 · Museum Ludwig
Same era · 1870s–1900s
Paris Street; Rainy Day
Kawabata Gyokushō · 1877 · Art Institute of Chicago
Same era · 1870s–1900s
("Leda") Design for a Plate: Shame on Those Who Evil Think (Honi Soit Qui Mal y Pense) ; cover illustration for the "Volpini Suite" entitled Lithographic Drawings (Dessins lithographiques)
Paul Gauguin · 1889 · The Metropolitan Museum of Art
Same era · 1870s–1900s
Moulin de la Galette
Henri de Toulouse-Lautrec · 1889 · Art Institute of Chicago
Same era · 1870s–1900s
Madame Cézanne (Hortense Fiquet, 1850–1922) in a Red Dress
Paul Cézanne · 1888 · The Metropolitan Museum of Art
Same era · 1870s–1900s
Stacks of Wheat (End of Day, Autumn)
Claude Monet · 1890 · Art Institute of Chicago
Same era · 1870s–1900s
Street in Moret
Alfred Sisley · 1890 · Art Institute of Chicago
Same era · 1870s–1900s
Two Girls Reading in a Garden
Pierre-Auguste Renoir · 1890
Same era · 1870s–1900s
Young Girl with Hat
Berthe Morisot · 1891 · Art Institute of Chicago
