Liegende 1893

John William Godward painted this oil on canvas of a reclining woman during a period when the Victorian era was ending, and society was rapidly changing. Godward, like many of his contemporaries, was deeply influenced by classical antiquity, which in his work takes the form of idealized visions of women in ancient Greek or Roman settings. Here, we see a woman lounging languidly, her expression conveying a sense of quiet repose. But this representation exists within the complex social dynamics of the late 19th and early 20th centuries. Godward's heroines offered a space for imagining different models of femininity, even though these were often viewed through a male gaze. The luxurious details, such as the marble and animal furs, serve not only to evoke a sense of classical opulence, but also speak to Victorian society’s obsession with beauty. Godward ultimately struggled to adapt to modern art movements. His work gives us a glimpse into a world where classical ideals intersect with Victorian sensibilities, revealing tensions between tradition and modernity.