By the Blue Ionian Sea 1916

John William Godward made *By the Blue Ionian Sea* with oil on canvas, and looking at it, I can almost feel the artist figuring things out as he goes, shifting and emerging through trial, error, and intuition. I sympathize with Godward, imagining him painting this woman in her red dress, sitting by the sea. What was he thinking when he made it? The paint is so smooth, and the colors are carefully chosen to create a sense of calm and beauty. That red dress is such a strong statement, though, isn't it? And how it pools around her feet! I wonder if Godward knew the work of other painters like Lawrence Alma-Tadema, who were also interested in classical themes. Artists are always in conversation with each other, inspiring each other’s creativity across time. Painting is such an embodied expression, and I appreciate how this piece embraces ambiguity, allowing for multiple interpretations and meanings.