Curatorial Narrative A moment of repose by Ernst Berger is a quintessential exemplar of Orientalist Art, created in 1889 at the height of this style’s vogue. The artist’s masterful technique imbues the work with an air of languid tranquility, as if the subject has momentarily surrendered to the gentle lassitude of an exotic, sun-drenched environment. Berger’s fine brushwork weaves a intricate tapestry of beige and blue hues, punctuated by flashes of gold, which seems to hover above the surface like the promise of a distant horizon.As one beholds “A moment of repose” at its intended scale of 78×44 inches, it is clear that Berger has skillfully calibrated the chromatic structure to create an atmospheric weight that is both soothing and immersive. The spatial rhythm established by the subject’s reclined form appears to stretch outwards, as if drawing the viewer into the serene interior depicted within the painting’s borders. This effec