by Stephanie Chatfield
Critics often describe Dante Gabriel Rossetti’s paintings of women as masculine — pointing to elongated necks, broad shoulders, and other features that defy traditional ideals of femininity. Some dismiss his work on sight.
But for me, that’s exactly the point. It’s Rossetti’s refusal to conform to narrow standards that draws me in.
An Acquired Taste Worth Exploring
Rossetti’s work may not appeal to everyone at first glance. It’s rich, strange, even otherworldly. But give it time. The more you sit with his paintings, the more they begin to speak — quietly, insistently. Images you might have once overlooked begin to gather weight, emotion, and presence.
Jane Morris: Brooding, Enigmatic, Unforgettable
Rossetti painted Jane Morris over and over again, turning her distinctive features into something mythic. Her face has been called brooding, enigmatic, even haunting. These aren’t conventional compliments, but they describe the quiet force of her presence in his art.
There’s a kind of cumulative effect in how her image lingers, as if each painting layers another thread of mystery and meaning.
Overexposed and Underappreciated?
Perhaps you’ve brushed past Proserpine without much thought — it’s everywhere: book covers, posters, commercials. Familiarity can dull impact. But being exposed to a painting isn’t the same as really seeing it. Rossetti’s work deserves a second look, especially if it’s been filtered through marketing or trend.
Why Do We Resist Rossetti?
Of course, art is subjective. Not everyone will connect with Rossetti’s vision — and that’s okay. Still, I wonder how much of the discomfort with his depictions of women stems from our inherited ideas of beauty.
We’re still steeped in a cultural belief that beauty should be small, soft, delicate. That women should appear fragile and angelic. Even now, the most “perfect” models are Photoshopped into oblivion, while everyday faces are polished with filters.
Beauty Beyond the Cookie-Cutter
In a world of curated sameness, Rossetti’s women stand out. They feel powerful and real. Their beauty doesn’t beg for approval—it commands attention.
Astarte Syriaca: The Goddess of Strength
Take Astarte Syriaca. Here, Rossetti paints a woman with strength in every brushstroke. Her arms are capable. Her gaze is steady and unafraid. She’s not a damsel or a decoration—she’s a force. A presence. A goddess.
Some might still call her masculine. I see something else entirely: a stunning portrait of fierce, feminine strength.
Bold. Beautiful. Unapologetically Different.
Rossetti’s images of women are metaphors—for beauty, yes, but also for power. They challenge our expectations and invite us to see strength and femininity not as opposites, but as allies.
And maybe, just maybe, we can draw on that vision for ourselves.
For more on Rossetti’s style, see Unconventional Beauty.
More about Dante Gabriel Rossetti