Dimensions: support: 914 x 679 mm frame: 1205 x 980 x 104 mm
Copyright: CC-BY-NC-ND 4.0 DEED, Photo: Tate
Editor: So, here we have "Broken Vows" by Philip Hermogenes Calderon. It's quite a melancholic piece, wouldn't you say? The woman seems utterly dejected, and there are children exchanging flowers behind her. What’s your take on this scene? Curator: It's a powerful visual poem about lost innocence and disillusionment. The woman, draped in sorrow, stands in stark contrast to the carefree children. Notice how Calderon uses light and shadow to create a sense of drama and internal conflict? It's almost as if the light itself is judging her. Editor: I see that, the children seem to be in the light and the woman is in shadow, it's a clever juxtaposition. Curator: Exactly! It speaks to the weight of her experience, the vows that have been broken, leaving her in this somber space. What do you think her story is? Editor: It feels like a cautionary tale about love and commitment. I'll definitely remember this! Curator: Agreed! Calderon captured a timeless human drama with such sensitivity.
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http://www.tate.org.uk/art/artworks/calderon-broken-vows-n05780
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The title of this painting suggests that the woman has recently discovered that her lover, whose initials are carved in the fence, has been unfaithful. Further details, including the discarded necklace and dying flowers, indicate her unhappy situation. The ivy-covered wall may symbolise her previous belief that their love was everlasting. Disappointed love was a popular theme in Victorian painting, and viewers were expected to unravel the situation from the symbols and expressions of the characters. Gallery label, July 2007
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