Who is Silvia 1920

Eleanor Fortescue-Brickdale made this painting, Who is Silvia, with what looks like oil on canvas, and there's a real sense of storytelling, of a scene captured just so. The painting has this incredible, almost dreamy quality. Fortescue-Brickdale uses a palette that's soft, earthy – lots of greens and browns, which give a real sense of the English countryside. The brushwork is delicate, especially in the way she renders Silvia's face. See how the light catches the planes of her cheeks, the gentle curve of her eyelids? It’s like she's painted not just a face, but a feeling, an inner world. Then there's the way she's handled the flowers, almost impressionistic, a riot of yellow that brings a pop of joy to the composition. Fortescue-Brickdale, working in the Pre-Raphaelite tradition, reminds me a little of someone like John William Waterhouse – both artists are interested in romantic, slightly melancholic scenes. But what I appreciate about this piece is that it manages to be both beautiful and a little mysterious. It’s a reminder that art doesn’t always need to shout to be heard.