The Meaning & Symbolism of Ophelia (1852) by John Everett Millais

Most painters have a painting that is used as a reference point when the painter’s name is brought up in the conversation. For John Everett Millais, his 1852 painting depicting the death of a Danish noblewoman drowning in the river became his trademark artwork. He presented his visual perspective on Ophelia’s last moments inspired by the beautifully written scene from William Shakespeare’s famous play — Hamlet.

In Shakespeare’s play, the young Ophelia was thrown into madness after her father was killed by the love of her life — Prince Hamlet. Soon after this, the young girl dies. She falls into a river and drowns. Millais depicts that sad and powerful moment. Ophelia does not resist the cruel destiny and slowly slides in the water around beautiful scenes of calming nature.

Millais took several days nearby the Hogsmill River to recreate the scene to his own taste. The 19-year-old model Elizabeth Siddal had a tough time during the process of posing. She had to spend hours in cold water so Millais could turn her into the Danish noblewoman from Shakespeare’s play. The painter spent four pounds to get her an old-fashioned, but beautiful dress. Nevertheless, the process that brought no pleasure for any of the two involved eventually played out as a masterpiece that cemented the legacy of Millais among the greats of European art.

Ophelia (1852). Oil on canvas, 76.2 cm × 111.8 cm. Source: Wikipedia Commons.

Indeed, a beautifully done artwork, Ophelia also has symbolisms hidden in the rich fauna around the river. Flowers don’t just make the whole scene more colorful they also have meanings.

From the seeds of the poppy, it is possible to produce opium — it symbolizes sleep, decline, and even, death. The Greek deity Hypnos and the goddess of night, Nyx — during the Renaissance era often had poppy as one of their attributes. In Christianity, the poppy is often associated as a symbol of Christ’s blood.

The painting also features a nettle — a symbol of pain (quite obvious symbolism). Daisies symbolize innocence, which is a nod by the painter to Ophelia’s character in Hamlet. Pansies — it’s unrequited love, while the roses symbolize love and beauty. The violets historically have been associated with loyalty. In the place where the young girl is about to die, Millais depicted a willow tree — it’s a symbol of death and resurrection.

The pose of Ophelia reminds some of the depictions of people in the paintings with religious motifs — hermits, saints, and martyrs. The position of her hands also creates associations with the crucifixion of Jesus Christ. Some have speculated that in the right corner of the painting, there is a hidden depiction of a skull, that once again, can be associated with death.

Ophelia is brilliant work from two aspects. One is the beauty of English nature — a rare painting involving English landscapes has been as vivid and visually pleasing, as the painting of Millais. It reminds the Paradise garden with its lively colors. Another sign of brilliance is the emotion of the dying girl that the painter presented in his work. You cannot see any fear or panic on her face, while she is moments away from having her last breath. Ophelia looks calm and composed, and time seems to be put on pause for a moment. Millais captured that one little moment between life and death that occurs in the lifetime of every person.

Ophelia (1894) by the fellow English painter John William Waterhouse. Oil on canvas, 124.4 cm x 73.6 cm. Source: Wikipedia Commons.

Still, the praise did not come instantly after Millais presented his work at the Royal Academy of Arts in London. Reviews were mixed, and some critics accused the painter of putting too much unnecessary pathos into his work. But as time passed, Millais saw plenty of admiration from the next generations of artists. Less than a half-century later, fellow English painter John William Waterhouse presented his version of Ophelia. However, his work depicted the young noblewoman before she fell into the river. It is a beautiful painting, but it lacks the wow-effect that Millais managed to achieve with his Ophelia. The emotions hit differently.

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