The Lady of Shalott (1888)
Painting by John William Waterhouse (English, 1849-1917)
The Lady of Shalott is a poem by Alfred Tennyson, written 50 years before Waterhouse painted this picture. The Lady of Shalott is cursed and forced to stay in a tower. She is only allowed to look at the world through a reflection in the mirror. One day, she sees a knight, Sir Lancelot, and falls in love with him. She ignores the curse and leaves the tower to find him, which results in her death. Lady of Shalott’s story can be read as a warning about female desire. Victorian society had strict rules and expectations for women that defined ‘acceptable’ behavior.
Matte Poster
• Printed with Dye/Pigment Reactive Ink on Archival Matte Paper
• Shipped in Heavy Duty Poster Tube
• Heavy weight (210 gsm), thick base, and an instant-dry coating that resists fingerprints and smudging