William Adolphe Bouguereau (French, Italian, 1825-1905). Print on paper, The Nut Gatherers, 1882. Signed and dated lower left. Framed. Provenance: Unicorn Antique Secaucus, NJ, United States, December 16, 2017, lot 1263. An auction paper label is on the back. William Adolphe Bouguereau was a French academic painter. In his realistic genre paintings, he used mythological themes, making modern interpretations of classical subjects, with an emphasis on the female human body. During his life, he enjoyed significant popularity in France and the United States, was given numerous official honors and received top prices for his work. As the quintessential salon painter of his generation, he was reviled by the Impressionist avant-garde. In the 1980s, a revival of interest in figure painting led to a rediscovery of Bouguereau and his work. Throughout the course of his life, Bouguereau executed 822 known finished paintings, although the whereabouts of many are still unknown. One of a kind artwork.