The Light Shineth in Darkness and the Darkness Comprehendeth It Not 1906

Evelyn De Morgan created this oil painting called 'The Light Shineth in Darkness and the Darkness Comprehendeth It Not,' though we don't know exactly when. The light in this painting really does shine, doesn’t it? A sublime, iridescent glow emanates from an angelic figure, who sits above a quartet of chained nudes, slumped in postures of despair. Look how De Morgan uses the brush to build up layers of luminous colour around the angel. The effect is mesmerizing, a kind of optical vibration. I wonder what De Morgan was thinking when she made this? It's tempting to think that the artist saw herself as the angel, bringing enlightenment to a world mired in darkness. It makes me think about all the symbolist painters working at the time, like Moreau or Khnopff, who were obsessed with these kinds of ethereal, spiritual themes. Ultimately, painting is like a conversation across time; each artist builds on what came before, and responds to what's happening now. And like all good conversations, the best paintings leave you with more questions than answers.