Lady of Shalott | John William Waterhouse Poster

I Am Half-Sick of Shadows, said the Lady of Shalott (1916) by John William Waterhouse beautifully captures a pivotal moment from Tennyson’s poem. In this scene, the Lady of Shalott is depicted sitting at her loom, weaving a tapestry of the outside world she can only view through a mirror. She is dressed in a vibrant red gown, which contrasts sharply with the muted background. Her expression is one of melancholy and yearning, as she contemplates her cursed existence and her growing desire to break free from the loom's limitations. The title, taken from the poem’s famous line, emphasises her inner conflict—caught between the safety of her isolation and the lure of the outside world. Waterhouse's mastery of light, colour, and intricate detail in this painting evokes a sense of longing, restriction, and the cost of unfulfilled desires. Use the design tools to add custom text or personalise the image.