Miranda

 

Miranda by is a painting by the english artist John William Waterhouse (1849-1917) that was completed in 1875. The artwork depicts Miranda, a character from The Tempest by William Shakespeare. It is she that utters the famous phrase, "A brave new world." Though the artist is mostly known as a member of the Pre-Raphaelite movement, this particular painting is in his earlier Academic style.

In the artwork we see Miranda dressed in a white gown of the classical era. She looks more like a character from Ancient Greece or Rome and not from early 17th century when the play was written. The light colour of her dress makes her seem almost naked. The bare feet add to her look of fragility. Her hair is a light brown colour, but her face is barely visible as she stares off in the distance across the dark sea.

Can you see yourself there? Sitting there on cold rocks, barely dressed, while sharp wind brings gray storm clouds towards you. What do you think as you look across the endless sea as the last rays of sunlight are to be cowered by dark clouds? Can you feel the wet sand on your feet, the cold in your toes as they feel the biting wind? Do you hope that the sea will bring forth your saviour, the one who will take you away from the small world that is all that you have ever known?

The painting has a mood of longing. It is a fragile human being against the harshness of the natural world. It is waiting for escape.