Midsummer Eve by Edward Robert Hughes (Interpretation and Analysis)

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Midsummer Eve
Source: Wikimedia Commons
I’ve written many times about my great love of Pre-Raphaelite art. The style emerged in the mid-nineteenth century as a reaction against what the Pre-Raphaelite perceived as a trend toward frivolity in artwork.

Instead, Pre-Raphaelite artists believed art should portray “serious” subjects, such as literature, poetry, mythology, and history. In particular, they drew inspiration from medieval art.

The work of artist Edward Robert Hughes is a good example of this aspect of Pre-Raphaelite art. Hughes was particularly intrigued by European legend and folklore, an interest that can be seen in his most famous painting: Midsummer Eve.

The painting depicts a young woman in a gold dress standing in a dark forest. A circle of fairies stand around her feet waving tiny lights in the air. The piece references the common belief that the barriers between the worlds were thinner at Midsummer, allowing spirits to enter the world. This belief extended to the fae, with many people believing that if you entered the woods on Midsummer Eve you would encounter fairies.

Though this was often seen as something sinister, starting in the nineteenth century fairies began to acquire the more friendly reputation that most of us are familiar with today. Hughes’ painting reflects this change in attitude, romanticizing the legends of Midsummer Eve with soft pastel shades and warm, golden light. The painting is part of the larger Victorian trend towards the romanticization of history and legend, a gradual whitewashing of these traditions to make them more acceptable by modern moral standards.

Today, however, this painting is known simply as a charming and sweet scene, reminiscent of a distant time in which life was simpler and more magical.

Disclaimer: I’m not an art historian or an expert on this topic. The above is my opinion, based on my interpretation of my foreknowledge of art and history. If I’ve done any additional research, I’ll note it above.

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