The Lady of Shallot Romanticism was a time in European history that was all about feelings and emotion rather than reason. This era was also considered to be a philosophical movement for people to become more emotionally self-aware to improve society. During the romanticism period, artists, authors, etc. took a different route, then how it was in the Neoclassical era. Artists chose to go in a more emotional, creative style for their creations. These artists also chose to display more symbolic and exotic subjects (i.e. paintings, books, poems). One piece of art that displays these characteristics is The Lady of Shalott, created by John William Waterhouse. John William Waterhouse was an Italian artist who painted mainly on oil canvas.
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For this painting, he chose to display the end of the Tennyson’s poem where the Lady is leaving Shallot in the boat. In the Lady of Shallot, Waterhouse chose to focus the painting on a beautiful lady in a horrible situation, during the medieval period. He showed this by painting her face with such sorrow, knowing that her life is coming to an end fast. Other ways Waterhouse showed her sorrow, was by using the setting. The dark woods in the background and the long unkempt grass gives more emphasis to her despair. His usage of color also reflects on the fact that the Lady of Shallot is about to die. It’s light, warm autumn colors showing the end of her life. The artist also uses balances in this painting, having the girl mostly on one side of the painting with the horizon coming on the other end. The colors that are used, cast a low light that also helps portray the realism that is depicted in this …show more content…
This gives us a better understanding of the medieval period because it wasn’t normal for women to go out and participate as the men were allowed to do. Which is why when Jennifer looks out the window, she is breaking the custom, thus leading to the biggest consequence of all, her death. In conclusion, The Lady of Shalott is a good depiction of romanticism art because of its focus on the beauty of individualism and
For this painting, he chose to display the end of the Tennyson’s poem where the Lady is leaving Shallot in the boat. In the Lady of Shallot, Waterhouse chose to focus the painting on a beautiful lady in a horrible situation, during the medieval period. He showed this by painting her face with such sorrow, knowing that her life is coming to an end fast. Other ways Waterhouse showed her sorrow, was by using the setting. The dark woods in the background and the long unkempt grass gives more emphasis to her despair. His usage of color also reflects on the fact that the Lady of Shallot is about to die. It’s light, warm autumn colors showing the end of her life. The artist also uses balances in this painting, having the girl mostly on one side of the painting with the horizon coming on the other end. The colors that are used, cast a low light that also helps portray the realism that is depicted in this …show more content…
This gives us a better understanding of the medieval period because it wasn’t normal for women to go out and participate as the men were allowed to do. Which is why when Jennifer looks out the window, she is breaking the custom, thus leading to the biggest consequence of all, her death. In conclusion, The Lady of Shalott is a good depiction of romanticism art because of its focus on the beauty of individualism and