Ophelia 1852

Arthur Hughes's 1852 painting "Ophelia" depicts the tragic heroine from Shakespeare's Hamlet. Ophelia, a young woman driven to madness by grief, is shown seated in a willow tree, sinking into a stream, surrounded by flowers. The painting captures the poignant melancholy of Ophelia's final moments, highlighting the natural world's beauty and the fragility of human life. The Pre-Raphaelite style of the artwork is evident in the detailed, realistic depiction of the natural world, along with the soft, luminous colors and the melancholic atmosphere.