The artwork titled “Pygmalion and the Image II: The Hand Refrains” was created by Edward Burne-Jones between 1868 and 1869. It is an oil painting on canvas and belongs to the Romanticism art movement. The painting falls under the genre of mythological painting and is part of the “Pygmalion” series.
In the artwork, Edward Burne-Jones portrays the mythological scene with a male figure standing pensively while holding his chin with his right hand and resting his left hand on a table. This figure is finely clothed in a long, dark robe. In contrast, the other figure, a female statue coming to life, exudes a sense of delicacy and transformation. She is depicted standing on a pedestal, with one hand poised thoughtfully near her face. The background reveals an interior space rich in detail and a warm, subdued color palette that imbues the scene with a sense of intimacy and contemplation. The contrast of the living figure’s thoughtful repose with the awakening vitality of the statue captures a moment of hesitancy and reverence.
