When The Heart Is Young 1902

John William Godward painted this dreamy scene, “When The Heart Is Young,” probably with oils, building up layer upon layer. Just imagine the subtle brushstrokes he employed to create the soft folds of the girl's pink dress. Looking at the picture I feel a kind of painterly kinship with Godward. What was he thinking as he worked? Maybe he was trying to capture a moment of peaceful reflection, setting her against the backdrop of the sea with an ancient marble wall. I bet he was thinking about the drape of the cloth, the texture of the fur she rests on. The marble is so smooth, the fur so fluffy, her hair so heavy. Her pale skin looks so soft against the dark fur. That contrast creates a really gorgeous sensation when you look at it. Artists are always talking to each other across time. Godward was obviously looking at the old masters, trying to capture that sense of timeless beauty. Painting is like that, it’s an ongoing conversation, with each artist adding their own voice to the mix.