Jason and Medea 1907

John William Waterhouse's 'Jason and Medea,' in a private collection, is awash with the rich, earthy tones and deep reds that are so characteristic of the Pre-Raphaelites. You can really see how the artist is building layer upon layer to get those colours. There’s something about the texture here, isn’t there? The way the light catches the folds of Medea's gown, and the stark contrast with the solid, almost sculptural quality of the stone seat. If you get up close, you can just make out the brushstrokes, a kind of restless energy, but also a real precision in the details of the fabric. It makes me think about the push and pull between the act of painting, and the act of really looking. I'm reminded of someone like Paula Rego, who also loved to bring a theatrical, story-telling quality to painting. Both artists, in different ways, let the paint itself tell a story, embracing the idea that art is always a conversation, never a final word.