The Garden of Opportunity 1892

Evelyn De Morgan created 'The Garden of Opportunity' during a period of significant change in British society. As industrialisation expanded, the Pre-Raphaelites looked to art to critique those industrial values. The artist employs visual codes to convey messages about choice, consequence, and moral judgment. Two women in cloaks walk toward the promise of reward, while another laments a crown, a book, symbols of knowledge and power, left behind. The painting reflects anxieties about the societal expectations placed on women during the Victorian era. Were women allowed to choose their destiny? To understand 'The Garden of Opportunity' fully, scholars might examine De Morgan’s personal writings and engagement with social and political movements. The artwork acts as a mirror, reflecting the dynamic interplay between artistic expression and the social structures that shape it.