Artwork
She Shall be Called Woman
She Shall be Called Woman is an oil painting by the Symbolist artist George Frederic Watts. It dates from 1890 and is held in the collection of the National Gallery.
About this work
Overview
Created in 1890, *She Shall be Called Woman* is an oil painting by the British artist George Frederic Watts. Executed during his mature Symbolist phase, the work is part of his ambitious series known as the "House of Life," which sought to visualise fundamental human emotions and aspirations through allegorical imagery. The painting is presently owned by Tate Britain.
Subject & Meaning
The canvas presents a solitary woman draped in a white gown, her long hair cascading around her shoulders. She is surrounded by a profusion of blossoms and leafy foliage, while her gaze is lowered and her expression tranquil, suggesting introspection or a contemplative state. Within Watts’s symbolic program, the figure embodies an idealised vision of femininity and spiritual serenity.
Technique & Style
Watts employs a warm, golden background that subtly shifts toward blue‑green tones, creating a luminous atmosphere. The handling of paint shows his characteristic chiaroscuro, with strong contrasts of light and shadow that model the figure’s form. Thick, impasto brushwork gives texture to the dress and foliage, adding tactile depth and reinforcing the painting’s allegorical tone.
History & Provenance
After its completion, the painting entered Watts’s personal collection before being acquired by the national institution now known as Tate Britain. It has remained in the museum’s holdings, where it is displayed as part of the broader representation of late‑19th‑century British Symbolism.
Context
*She Shall be Called Woman* belongs to the Symbolist movement, which favored metaphor and myth over literal representation. Watts, already renowned for allegorical works such as *Hope* and *Love and Life*, used this piece to further explore universal themes of gender, purity, and inner life, aligning with the broader Victorian interest in moral and spiritual symbolism.
Artist & collection
Artist
George Frederic Watts (23 February 1817 – 1 July 1904) was a British painter and sculptor associated with the Symbolist movement.
