I love this, the Waterhouse painting has always been a favorite. I think the idea that the Lady represents a constrained Victorian femininity is apt. The story is so rich for feminist theorizing: the restriction of her gaze, her being forced to weave (a historically female task), her imprisonment in a phallic tower, her inability to resist temptation.
It's also so interesting to see what parts of the narrative artists chose to depict. The chaos of Hunt's painting is so different from the serenity and mournfulness of Waterhouse's, while the Waterhouse painting of the Lady weaving seems to vibrate with frustration.
But there's something about Siddal's drawing that hits deepest. The almost resigned look on the Lady's face as she turns. The way the light falls through the window and onto her dress. The reflection of Lancelot in the shattered window. It appears to be such a simple drawing at first, but there is so much to fall in love with!
Such a great point about the tower! And I agree - Siddal's drawing, though the simplest of all of them, carries a lot of emotional weight. It's such a potent scene. Thank you for reading! :)
I love this, the Waterhouse painting has always been a favorite. I think the idea that the Lady represents a constrained Victorian femininity is apt. The story is so rich for feminist theorizing: the restriction of her gaze, her being forced to weave (a historically female task), her imprisonment in a phallic tower, her inability to resist temptation.
It's also so interesting to see what parts of the narrative artists chose to depict. The chaos of Hunt's painting is so different from the serenity and mournfulness of Waterhouse's, while the Waterhouse painting of the Lady weaving seems to vibrate with frustration.
But there's something about Siddal's drawing that hits deepest. The almost resigned look on the Lady's face as she turns. The way the light falls through the window and onto her dress. The reflection of Lancelot in the shattered window. It appears to be such a simple drawing at first, but there is so much to fall in love with!
Such a great point about the tower! And I agree - Siddal's drawing, though the simplest of all of them, carries a lot of emotional weight. It's such a potent scene. Thank you for reading! :)