An Auburn Beauty 1895

John William Godward, a British painter, created this oil on canvas painting, "An Auburn Beauty." Godward, like many artists of his time, found himself at a crossroads. He was working in a period grappling with shifting social and artistic norms. His focus on classical themes and idealized beauty clashed with the rise of modern art movements. Godward’s heroines are always white, seemingly frozen in time, reflecting a desire to hold onto a certain aesthetic ideal. The woman's auburn hair, gently curled, contrasts beautifully against her pale skin. She is the epitome of a European beauty standard. The gold band adds a touch of elegance, but also hints at the constraints placed on women. Godward once said, "Paint what you see and paint it as you see it." But what did he choose to see? What was he not seeing? This painting invites us to consider the role of beauty, and whose stories are deemed worthy of representation.