Friday Feature: John William Waterhouse

The Siren by Waterhouse

Heavy with symbolism and classic mythological stories John William Waterhouse's paintings have a refined elegance.  What I like best about them is that they convey a lot of emotion despite the fact that they aren't "expressive" in the splashy color manner of the later symbolist movement paintings. In this next painting he illustrated Tennyson's poem "The Lady of Shalott"...

I'm Half Sick with Shadows by Waterhouse

But in her web she still delights
To weave the mirror's magic sights,
For often thro' the silent nights
A funeral, with plumes and lights
And music, went to Camelot:
Or when the moon was overhead,
Came two young lovers lately wed;
"I am half-sick of shadows," said The Lady of Shalott.
-Lord Alfred Tennyson

Echo and Narcissus by Waterhouse

To be half sick with shadows is to be tired of dreaming of living.  When you reach the point where reality must be pushed to fulfill the delights of your imagination.  Yet for today I am content to live vicariously through these myths and legends.  Tomorrow I will take action.