Pygmalion and the Image III: The Godhead Fires 1878

Editor: Okay, so this is "Pygmalion and the Image III: The Godhead Fires" painted in 1878 by Edward Burne-Jones. It’s oil and gouache on linen, and looking at it, I’m immediately struck by this feeling of ethereal stillness and the transformation unfolding. The sculptor almost seems hesitant in bringing his sculpture to life. What do you see in this piece? Art Historian: Ah, Burne-Jones. He was a true dreamer with a paintbrush, wasn’t he? What I see is a dance between creation and desire, and isn’t that always a delicious tension? The story of Pygmalion, so full of longing that it bends reality, has always fascinated artists. Note how Burne-Jones positions the figures, the almost reluctant touch as life sparks into being, but, I ask myself, who is awakening whom? Is it Pygmalion gifting life, or is Galatea pulling him into her reality? I find myself in an Escher staircase of possibilities when I contemplate this work. Editor: I see what you mean. It's more of an exchange than I initially thought. Art Historian: Indeed! It reminds me of a poem by Rilke, talking about how lovers are "two solitudes that protect, border, and salute each other." Perhaps Burne-Jones hints that true creation arises only from that border. What do you make of the colour palette, the sort of muted vibrancy of it all? Editor: It contributes to the dreamlike quality. And the doves… are they symbolic, or just pretty accents? Art Historian: Oh, my dear, with the Pre-Raphaelites, nothing is just pretty! Doves often symbolize love, peace, or even the Holy Spirit. Their presence reinforces the idea of a sacred, almost divine moment. Each dove, I'm sure, has a tale to whisper, a symbol to unveil, or maybe it's just Burne-Jones’ fancy of birds at his backyard, you know? Inspiration strikes in strange forms! What will you do with that bird chirping in your head? Editor: This painting definitely has a lot more layers than I first perceived. Art Historian: That’s the joy of art, isn’t it? Peeling back those layers and discovering the unexpected. Next time you stand before a painting, ask yourself not just what you see, but what it makes you feel, what stories it stirs within you. Art is just an incitation, a match set to tinder. Editor: I definitely will, thanks!