The artwork entitled “Study for Pygmalion,” created by Edward Burne-Jones in 1870, is a quintessential example of the Romanticism art movement. This mythological painting belongs to the “Pygmalion” series and explores themes rooted in ancient mythology.
The artwork depicts a delicate, nude female figure rendered in pencil on paper. The figure stands gracefully, her body partially turned to the side, capturing the essence of classical beauty and purity. The subtlety of the lines and the gentle shading underscore the ethereal, almost statuesque quality of the subject. The soft, wispy hair and the demure pose contribute to the aura of innocence and enchantment that permeates the work, aligning perfectly with the Romanticism movement’s emphasis on emotive and imaginative expression.