Crimson 

This is Michael C. Hayes’ painting "Crimson," made sometime in the 20th century. The subdued palette and gentle light cast on the subject recalls the pre-Raphaelite paintings of the late 19th century. Paintings like this ask us to consider the role of women as objects of beauty. The woman’s bowed head and closed eyes suggest a certain passive vulnerability, while the dark red and grey palette evokes a somber mood. Yet, this is no Ophelia. She wears bracelets and rings, symbols of autonomy and self-possession. The red rose in her hair suggests she is a woman in command of her sensuality. Hayes presents us with a figure who is both aware of her own beauty and quietly contemplative. In his hands, the figure is neither the decorative object nor the tragic heroine. She is a study in self-possession, a woman caught in a moment of reflection.