The Beauty of Reading – Part IV

Posted by on February 4, 2012 4:59 am in Book talk | 9 comments

I never stop looking for art on the subject of reading, and I was a bit surprised to realize it’s been over a year since I did one of these posts!

The third one focused on children being read to; this time around, I chose paintings of young girls reading by themselves.

Oh, the magical world of books!

Small Young Girl Reading by Seymour Joseph Guys, 1877

Ethel Reading Bluebeard by Alfred Morgan 1881

Reading Girl by Bremen Johann Georg Meyer Von (19th century)

Reading Girl by Bremen Johann Georg Meyer Von (19th century)

Young Girl Reading by the Window by Walter MacEwen

Home reading by Elliot Bouton Torrey

What I like about all these paintings is that they all seem relax, like they’re enjoying their reading and not forced to study. I relate to these children with a sweet touch of nostalgia; books were a wonderful comfort to me as a kid and they still are to this day.

Can you pick a favorite? I think mine are the first two.

To see the previous “Beauty of Reading” posts :

I – II – III

9 Comments

  1. How gorgeous are these pictures of girls reading. Also takes me back to my childhood and escaping in the pages of a book. I love Number 4 best. Something about the little girl’s whimsical expression is so familiar. Presently reading Wallace Stegner’s “Angle of repose” for the first time for bookclub.. Wonderful. I wont get much sleep tonight.

  2. They’re all beautiful!

  3. i love these precious old images – lovely.

  4. Love number two. Thanks for the collection. 🙂

  5. Love it and can’t wait to see my daughter with her nose deep in a book.

  6. Reblogged this on booklovershere.

  7. Yay, another reading post! I think my favorite is the last one.

    I wonder why females are always depicted reading and men so rarely are.

    • I wonder so too.

      I often see paintings of women reading books and letters, while men write. Maybe there’s something passive in reading, but active in writing?

  8. I like the first one best. As to why men are depicted writing, and women reading… I haven’t got a clue. Regardless reading is a great pastime, particularly for the young.

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