White Garden 1905

Edward Burne-Jones made this drawing of a White Garden in a time before photographs exploded and colour wasn’t so easily achieved. There's a pre-Raphaelite feel to it. It’s like a dream, not quite in focus, as if he tried to catch a fleeting vision. Look closely, and you can see the colored pencil strokes layered one on top of the other. A soft green frames the image, which is also built up from many tiny lines. The wings and drapery of the figures have a sculptural weight. Notice how the white lilies are carefully placed, almost like musical notes, creating a rhythm through the piece. Burne-Jones captures light and volume using only a few colours, conjuring a world of ethereal beauty. This kind of restrained palette reminds me a little of the work of James McNeil Whistler, who also sought to create a sense of harmony and atmosphere through subtle variations in tone. Ultimately, like any good drawing, this is an invitation to step into another world.