‘She shall be called woman’ c. 1875 - 1892

Curator: Watts’ monumental painting, ‘She shall be called woman,’ presents a figure emerging from what appears to be earth and flora. Editor: It’s quite dreamlike, isn't it? The figure seems almost vaporous, a manifestation rather than a solid form. Curator: Indeed. The scale alone impresses—consider how it might have been interpreted at a time when the roles of women were under intense scrutiny. Editor: The lack of hard lines contributes to the ethereal quality, almost negating any definitive reading of her form. Watts seems interested in the symbolic power of emergence. Curator: I think the materiality enhances that effect, too. The blending of the figure with the earth tones conveys a sense of inseparability, and the soft lighting enhances the dramatic tone. Editor: Reflecting on it, the artwork compels me to contemplate the continuous interplay between the corporeal and the intangible. Curator: It invites us to consider the very essence of being.