Then to her tower she climb'd, and took the shield 1913

This watercolor painting by Eleanor Fortescue-Brickdale shows a young woman with long, wavy hair, clutching a shield as she walks through a stone archway. I can almost feel the weight of the shield in her arms. Did she choose to carry it, or was it thrust upon her? I imagine the artist standing before an easel in her studio, carefully building up the image layer by layer, stroke by stroke. The paint is so delicate and watery, it feels like a whisper. Look how Brickdale uses light and shadow to create a sense of depth and drama, drawing us into her world. The Pre-Raphaelites and Symbolists would have loved this. It's as if she is in conversation with them across time. This painting reminds me that artists are always learning from each other, borrowing ideas, and pushing the boundaries of what's possible.