How does this artwork elucidate its Description?
The painting shows a woman reclining on her back, with a pet parrot alighting on an outstretched hand. While painted in a style to gain Academy acceptance in its pose and smooth flesh tones, the model's discarded clothes and disheveled hair were controversial, although less so than Le Sommeil, painted the same year. Joanna Hiffernan likely posed for both paintings, as she did for others by Courbet.
The work is on view in the Metropolitan Museum's Gallery 811.
Le Sommeil Joanna Hiffernan