Amaryllis 1903

Curator: This painting by John William Godward, entitled "Amaryllis," completed in 1903, immediately strikes me with its languid beauty. Editor: Oh, yes. It has a certain theatrical melancholy. The figure reclines amidst symbols of wealth and power—a tiger skin, a marble bench—yet her gaze is downcast, inward. What's the story here, really? Curator: Godward, a devoted follower of classicism, often portrayed women in such poses, drawing inspiration from antiquity. The textures are marvelous, aren’t they? Look at the drapery—almost diaphanous. The colors also pop. The choice of name of the painting for this artwork "Amaryllis", sounds like some poem's character, lost and lonely, with maybe unrequited love. Editor: Absolutely. And Godward’s fixation with the past also speaks volumes about the present – his present, and arguably, ours too. He presents us with this image of womanhood and beauty. Was he trapped, or trying to tell the world how to love and preserve something sacred and immutable? There is an obvious element of privilege on display here. How much did class dynamics allow for such leisured melancholy? Curator: Maybe! Although, the beauty is almost overwhelming. This careful balance between classical form and something that feels deeply, intensely human, something romantic. Her pose is casual, which to me says a lot of freedom. The fan that she holds, is some kind of tool of power maybe? We do know the peacock feathers can mean luxury but also pride and arrogance. Editor: The “casual” pose, as you say, might actually be a carefully constructed performance of leisure and beauty, intended to reinforce societal expectations of women. I read more isolation than I see freedom in it. But I agree, the craft here is amazing, and in my humble opinion, helps to keep this a very meaningful piece. Curator: Yes, I find it amazing that art has all of these layers and feelings associated with each brush stroke, intentional or not, that open to so many different meanings for the audience. I feel moved with such art, one brushstroke and so many feelings come flooding in. Editor: Indeed. It encourages one to meditate on beauty, wealth, gender, and ultimately, on what it means to be a spectator in a world still wrestling with these very themes.