Ophelia (1894), by J.W. WaterhouseAfter 1889, this is the second time that Waterhouse painted Opheli
Ophelia (1894), by J.W. WaterhouseAfter 1889, this is the second time that Waterhouse painted Ophelia from Shakespeare’s Hamlet. This time she looks less distressed, but the water in which she is about to drown is very near. Waterhouse spent considerable effort to paint Ophelia’s hair. Microscopic analysis revealed seven layers of paint in various colours. The reddish brown final layer is very effective, although this is always hard to tell from a screen reproduction. The hair flows like water over her back.Women, water, death … three subjects that frequently return in Waterhouse’s paintings. -- source link
#painting#symbolism#19th century#shakespeare#ophelia#hamlet