The Mourners 1916

Evelyn De Morgan made this painting, The Mourners, using oils. Look at the ethereal colour palette, where muted browns and purples contrast with golden hues. It's as though the artist is inviting us to witness a deeply personal expression of grief and longing. Focus on the texture; the paint is applied in thin, translucent layers, creating a luminous quality that draws you in. The mourner on the right is really striking – De Morgan’s emphasis on the bold form of this central figure really encapsulates the emotional intensity of the piece. Like many artists of her time, she shares an affinity with earlier Renaissance painters, especially in her elegant use of line. But De Morgan brings her own unique vision, embracing ambiguity and multiple interpretations. She really invites us to contemplate the cyclical nature of life, death, and spiritual rebirth.