The Sleeping Beauty 1890

Edward Burne-Jones created this painting, “The Sleeping Beauty,” using oil paints and a canvas. The figures are rendered with meticulous brushwork, each fold of fabric and strand of hair carefully considered. Burne-Jones employed glazing techniques, building up layers of translucent color to create depth and luminosity. This painstaking process speaks to the ethos of the Arts and Crafts movement, emphasizing the value of skilled handwork in an era of increasing industrialization. He rejects quick, mass-produced effects, opting for a slower, more deliberate approach. The tactile quality of the painting's surface invites close examination, revealing the artist's dedication to his craft. Yet there’s a tension here. The subject matter – a scene of dreamy repose – seems at odds with the labor-intensive process of its creation. Is this a comment on the artist's own position, caught between the demands of the art market and a desire for authentic, meaningful work? Burne-Jones prompts us to consider the social and economic context in which art is made.