Ophelia 1898

Frances Macdonald created Ophelia around 1896, using watercolor and pencil. Notice how the translucent watercolor is delicately layered, achieving a soft, ethereal quality. Macdonald’s rendering of fabric and foliage reflects the era’s fascination with naturalism, yet she avoids photo-realism, creating a dreamlike, symbolist image. Macdonald came out of the Glasgow School, which embraced all manner of making – furniture, metalwork, embroidery, and graphic design. These artists saw no hierarchy between fine and applied art, and that ethos is evident here. Her integration of meticulous drawing with flowing washes of color shows the influence of both botanical illustration and Japanese prints, traditions that were more typically associated with design and craft. Macdonald brings these influences together in a way that elevates the conventional medium of watercolor, blurring the boundaries between fine art and design. It's a testament to the value of exploring diverse materials and techniques in artistic expression.