The Embarkation for Cythera
The artist
Antoine Watteau, a French painter who invented gentle, dreamy scenes of elegant people enjoying the outdoors.
What you see
Beautifully dressed couples stroll through a golden garden by the sea, getting ready to sail to Cythera, a magical island of love.
The story
Painted in 1717, this happy, festive picture helped Watteau become a full member of France's royal art academy.
The style
Watteau used soft, shimmering colors and misty light so the whole scene feels like a pleasant daydream.
Look closer
Little winged cupids float in the sky and a golden boat waits at the shore to carry the couples away.
Where to see it
It hangs in the Louvre Museum in Paris, France, among the treasures of French painting.
Fun fact
People still gently argue whether the couples are just arriving at the island of love or getting ready to leave it.