Sappho 1910

John William Godward’s Sappho, probably made with oil on canvas, is all classical drapery and thoughtful poses. I can imagine him, brush in hand, trying to capture that soft, almost melancholy light on her face. It's like he’s trying to freeze a moment of introspection. It's probably quite thin paint, glazed in layers and reworked. You see the care he took in rendering each fold of her dress, that scroll in her hand. She's lost in thought, maybe composing verse, maybe just dreaming. It’s interesting to think of Godward looking back to classical themes, a dialogue with the art of the past, and all the while contributing to the ongoing, shape-shifting conversation that painting always is. It’s never really about perfection, but more about the artist’s own way of seeing and feeling.