Edward John Poynter painted this oil on canvas of Andromeda, the Greek mythological figure, sometime in the late 19th or early 20th century. Here, Andromeda is shown chained to a rock, awaiting a sea monster. Poynter’s image operates within a Victorian visual culture that often sexualized and objectified women, but it also touches upon themes of sacrifice and vulnerability. The pale skin and downcast eyes of the figure contrast dramatically with the dark and turbulent sea. Made in Britain during the height of its empire, we might ask, does the painting reinforce conservative Victorian social norms regarding the role of women? Or does it offer subtle commentary on female oppression and the treatment of women in the art world? To understand Poynter's "Andromeda" more fully, scholars examine the artist's biography, study Victorian social history, and interpret classical mythology. Art is not made in a vacuum, and its meaning is always contingent upon its historical context.
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