Sketchbook – Study for Atlas in Atlas Turned to Stone 

Edward Burne-Jones made this pencil drawing as a study for a painting on the mythological subject of Atlas. Considered in relation to its time, this drawing of a titan’s transformation gains new layers of significance. Burne-Jones was a central figure in the British Aesthetic movement, which emerged in the late 19th century, partly in response to the industrial revolution. The movement rejected the idea that art should have a moral or social purpose, instead advocating for ‘art for art's sake.’ In this context, Burne-Jones's choice of subject matter is telling. Atlas, condemned to hold up the heavens for eternity, becomes a symbol of the artist's own burden: the weight of artistic tradition. The drawing, with its classical subject and idealized form, is rooted in the art of the past but also transcends it, becoming a meditation on the nature of art itself. To understand Burne-Jones better, consider the writings of Walter Pater and the Pre-Raphaelite Brotherhood, which provide insights into the aesthetic and intellectual climate in which he worked. The art is more than just an aesthetic object; it's a reflection of cultural values.