The Lady of Shalott 1905

Edward Robert Hughes created "The Lady of Shalott" with what looks like oil paint, using a layered approach, a technique so detailed it almost feels like a photograph in parts. The real magic for me is in the contrast; the way he teases out the textures with thin, translucent glazes against areas of thicker, more opaque paint. I find the surface of the painting has this incredible depth, like looking into another world. If you look closely at the lady’s hair, you can see it's a mass of delicate strokes and tangled hues. It feels like Hughes is trying to capture something beyond the mere surface of things. Reminds me a little of Paula Rego, with its use of imagery drawn from myth and folklore, and that willingness to embrace narrative and emotional complexity. Art at its best is an ongoing conversation, and this piece is a great example of how artists borrow, respond, and transform each other’s ideas across time.