Medea 1889

Evelyn De Morgan created this striking painting titled Medea using oil on canvas. The composition immediately draws you in with its vivid contrasts: the checkered floor against the fluid drapery, the cool marble against Medea's warm skin. The use of perspective is unsettling, destabilizing our sense of space. Medea stands in the foreground, yet the architectural elements suggest a receding depth, pulling us into the scene. Notice the hourglass she holds, its contents a potent symbol of time running out, and the doves scattered on the floor, perhaps representing lost innocence or freedom. These elements combine to create a complex interplay of form and meaning, prompting a reconsideration of classical narratives within a Victorian context. De Morgan's subversion of traditional aesthetics invites us to question established norms and recognize the multifaceted nature of art.