The artwork “I am Half Sick of Shadows, said the Lady of Shalott” is a captivating oil on canvas painting by John William Waterhouse created in the year 1915. Measuring 73.7 by 100.3 cm, it is a quintessential example of Romanticism and is classified as a literary painting. This piece is currently housed in the Art Gallery of Ontario (AGO), located in Toronto, Canada, offering viewers a chance to witness a harmonious symbiosis between arts and literature.
This artwork depicts a scene inspired by Alfred Lord Tennyson’s poem, “The Lady of Shalott.” In the painting, the Lady of Shalott is represented in a moment of emotional conflict and ennui. Clothed in a rich, flowing red gown, she reclines in a darkened room with a tapestry beneath her that illustrates her previous endeavors at the loom. Her pose suggests a moment of contemplative weariness and a sense of longing or despair as she rests her cheek on her hand and gazes outwards.
The setting is infused with a somber yet intricate atmosphere; arched windows reveal a vibrant world outside, contrasting with her constrained and shadowed space. Through the window, a distant view of Camelot is visible, along with the figure of a man by a river, possibly symbolizing the connection to the outside world she yearns for but cannot fully be a part of. The rich detail of the artwork—from the checkered floor to the fruit lying beside her, to the already woven portion of the tapestry—enhances the dramatic and Romantic essence that Waterhouse imparts. The artwork is infused with a sense of narrative and psychological depth, inviting the observer to ponder the inner thoughts and emotions of the Lady of Shalott.