The Guarded Nymph Near-Smiling on the Green 1885

Will Hicock Low made this watercolor titled, *The Guarded Nymph Near-Smiling on the Green*. In the late 19th century, Low worked within the American Renaissance, a cultural movement which sought to revive classical Greek ideals. Here, we see a nymph, a mythological spirit of nature, rendered in muted tones that give the piece a timeless, dreamy quality. But let’s consider this figure within her cultural moment. A period marked by rapid industrialization, immigration, and shifting social norms. In contrast to these changes, the nymph embodies an idealized vision of femininity and a longing for pastoral simplicity. Low's aesthetic choices reflect a desire to create a space apart from the discontents of modern life. And yet, the concept of guarding—what is she guarding, and from whom—suggests a world where even in an arcadian paradise, innocence must be protected. What tensions and desires are barely concealed beneath the surface here?