Artwork
The Secret
The Secret is an oil painting by the Impressionist artist Johann Georg Meyer. It is held in the collection of the Clark Art Institute.
About this work
Overview
The Secret is a 1893 oil painting by Johann Georg Meyer von Bremen, a German artist associated with the Düsseldorf school. It is part of the Clark Art Institute's collection.
Subject & Meaning
The painting shows a quiet scene of a woman and young girl in a dimly lit room. The woman holds a bowl of cabbage while the girl whispers in her ear, creating an intimate atmosphere.
Technique & Style
Meyer von Bremen's use of chiaroscuro and muted colors, dominated by browns and grays, creates depth and draws attention to the central figures. The artist's attention to detail is evident in the rendering of the woman's clothing.
History & Provenance
Meyer von Bremen studied at the Düsseldorf Academy under Friedrich Wilhelm Schadow before establishing his own studio in 1841. The Secret is characteristic of his work depicting everyday scenes.
Artist & collection
Artist
Johann Georg Meyer von Bremen (28 October 1813 Bremen, Germany – 4 December 1886 Berlin), commonly known as Meyer von Bremen, was a German painter who specialized in Biblical, peasant, and family scenes.
Grandmother with her granddaughter
Poika saa maitoa, luonnos I
Breton Brother and Sister
The Little Housekeeper
Woman and Child Before a Mirror
The Sick Child
Woman Baking Pancakes
At a Coppersmith’s Workshop
I en kobbersmeds værksted
The Day before Parting
Kitchen Interior with Three Women
Una asturiana desplumando un pichón