Victorian-era

  • Wedded (1882)

    Wedded (1882)

    Frederic Leighton (English, 1830–1896)

    A bride stands solemnly in her white gown, fingers lightly touching her wedding band. The heavy folds of fabric and downcast eyes speak louder than any smile—this moment holds more gravity than joy. Marriage here feels less like celebration, more like a quiet surrender to duty.

  • A young woman opening a jewel casket

    A young woman opening a jewel casket

    Alice Macallan Swan (English, 1864–1939)

    A young woman hesitates, fingers brushing the ornate latch of a jewel casket. The glow of gold catches her face—anticipation, temptation, perhaps dread. What secrets lie inside? Her posture tenses between desire and restraint, the casket’s contents as veiled as her thoughts.

  • The Flirt (1874)

    The Flirt (1874)

    Winslow Homer (American, 1836–1910)

    A playful beachside encounter, charged with unspoken tension and the restless energy of the sea.