The sweet and touching tale of Fleur and Blanchefleur 1922

Eleanor Fortescue-Brickdale made this image, “The sweet and touching tale of Fleur and Blanchefleur”, and the way she approaches color feels so intuitive, like a dance between what’s there and what could be. Look at the confident outlines and flat blocks of color! It's so assured. The dog beneath the table is the same yellow as the candlelight, and as we read the image the blocks of color seem to have a life of their own. The red of the protagonist's sleeves and boots are echoed in the drapery, and the hat of the figure he faces. Fortescue-Brickdale isn’t afraid to let the colors do the talking. There's a sense of play, a willingness to let the painting guide the way. It reminds me of Edward Burne-Jones, but with a lightness of touch all of her own. Art is like a game of telephone, isn't it? Each artist picking up the thread and adding their own spin. It's less about having the definitive answer, and more about keeping the conversation going.