I especially love this painting because it depicts a new chapter in my life. As I was out walking last week, I decided to stop at an art shop. It was there that I found this lovely painting of a man and woman and it reminded me of Lord Watergate and I. Love has been a journey in my life and did not come easily. I watched as men chased after my beautiful sisters. There were times when I would’ve wished men saw me as beautiful, but I was always happy for my sisters. I never sought a husband and instead focused on the business or my writing. Deep down I think I always wanted to experience love, but I had come to terms with being by myself and my work. However, when I met Lord Watergate, my life and image of a distant love changed. Even after turning him down once, he pursued me and now we’re happily married. I had gotten the opportunity to experience love that I had so silently yearned for. Now, living in our home together, I wanted to have something that could remind me of the final chance of love that I have been able to experience. I bought this Victorian painting as an inspiration to my new found love with Lord Watergate. He noticed me when others were intimidated or sought after my sisters. Because of his persistence, I was able to experience love and a relationship which for so many years seemed like a foreign concept.
Editorial Commentary:
Gertrude is always described as intelligent and clever and is often compared to her more appealing sisters. Her interactions with men were never of significance in comparison to the men that constantly swarmed and fell in love with her sisters. Although it never seemed to really bother her, there were moments of self pity and realization where she truly did want to feel loved. This painting is significant because it represents the chance at love that Gertrude was finally able to experience with Lord Watergate. He was able to see past the intimidating and logical side of Gertrude that had turned men away before. Because Gertrude was considered a more modern woman, it affected how men viewed her. This can relate to Victorian society as a whole and how men were intimidated by modern women. In early Victorian years, marriage was typically composed of a more dominant man that was the breadwinner and a submissive wife that bore children and worked in the house. However, as the “New Woman” ideal became increasingly prevalent, traditional marriage relationships altered. In a marriage with a modern woman as the wife, she might want to work and have a career as her own. Now, the question of who makes money and who takes care of the children may be seriously addressed. This was different from tradition where it was expected of the women to follow domestic duties and take care of children. As more and more modern women got married, the typical Victorian marriage structure changed to an extent where now women were able to be more individualized in the relationship and work towards their own aspirations.
Citation:
“George Goodwin Kilburne - Courtship.: Romantic Paintings, Romantic Art, Beautiful Art.”
Pinterest, 3 Aug. 2020, www.pinterest.dk/pin/563653709604465034/.
Levy, Amy. The Romance of a Shop. Cupples and Hurd, 1889.