Jerusalem the Golden 1892 - 1894

Thomas Hovenden created this painting, Jerusalem the Golden, with oil on canvas. The composition immediately evokes a feeling of subdued melancholy, with the pale figure of the woman dominating the foreground. Her form is thrown into sharp relief by the dark tones of the man at the edge of the painting and the shadowed figure at the piano. Hovenden uses light to draw attention to the woman's face and the delicate fabric of her dress. The texture created by his brushwork gives the piece an unfinished quality. The way Hovenden contrasts light and dark raises questions about visibility and concealment and creates an atmosphere heavy with unspoken emotions. Is he using these visual cues to explore themes of desire and loss? We can never be certain; the formal elements of the painting offer no definitive answers.