With goodly, greenish locks, all loose untied 1920

Eleanor Fortescue-Brickdale made this dreamy scene with watercolors. She employs traditional methods: paper as support, soft brushes, and a layering technique to achieve depth and atmosphere. The Pre-Raphaelite influence is evident in the attention to detail, especially in the rendering of foliage and the nymph's flowing hair. There’s a kind of quiet labor in the work, a dedication to capturing the delicate balance of nature. The watercolor medium itself has an inherent softness, lending to the overall ethereal quality. Consider the social context: Fortescue-Brickdale was a woman artist working in a male-dominated field, proving her skill through mastery of a traditional medium. The image doesn't scream of labor in the same way that a landscape by Courbet might, but it celebrates nature and artistic skill. In the end, understanding the materials, the making process, and the context in which this artwork was created allows for a deeper appreciation of the artist's vision.