The Blind Girl 1856

Sir John Everett Millais painted "The Blind Girl" during a time of significant social change in Victorian England. The painting depicts two young girls, one blind and the other a sighted companion, seeking shelter from an approaching storm. Millais was part of the Pre-Raphaelite Brotherhood, who rejected the academic art of the time, in favor of the rich detail, intense colors, and complex compositions of Italian art. The blind girl, likely a beggar, possesses a certain tranquility despite her circumstances. There's a socio-economic dimension here, as the painting subtly touches on themes of poverty and disability. The presence of the rainbow and the storm adds to the emotional complexity of the scene. Is it a symbol of hope amidst adversity, or a reminder of life's unpredictable nature? Millais has created a poignant commentary on the human condition, where the senses, or lack thereof, shape our perception and experience.