Gleaning Butterflies

This is a picture I've always adored. It's called The Young Gleaner or The Butterflies by Paul Peel. It resides at the Art Gallery of Ontario and is actually quite a large painting. I remember being shocked by how vividly colourful it was the first time I saw it.

I don't think posting it here can do it justice, but the way light is captured in this painting is incredible. I think, well speculate really, that it has something to do with the artist's use of shadow. You can feel the heat of the sun when you look at this picture and almost sense a light breeze. And I love how relaxed the little girl is, how entranced she is by the butterflies. 

It's sky and sand, wildflowers and the simple beauty of a summer's day. Indigo would have loved it.