An Angel Playing a Flageolet 1878

Edward Burne-Jones created this artwork, An Angel Playing a Flageolet, using pastel and gouache. Burne-Jones was a key figure in the British Aesthetic movement. This movement championed ‘art for art’s sake’ and a rejection of industrialisation. This angel is portrayed with ethereal beauty, characteristic of the movement. Here, visual codes are used to create meaning. Angels are traditionally seen as messengers of God and stand for purity. The angel’s downcast gaze and the instrument she plays evokes serenity and introspection. The choice of pastel and gouache contributes to the dreamlike quality of the image, aligning with the Aesthetic movement's focus on beauty and escapism. To understand Burne-Jones, historians might consider the influence of John Ruskin and William Morris, the Pre-Raphaelite brotherhood, and also the broader social context of Victorian England. By situating the artwork in its social and institutional context, we can appreciate its cultural significance more fully.