The artwork titled “A Christmas Carol,” created by Dante Gabriel Rossetti in 1857, is a remarkable piece executed in gouache and watercolor on paper. This creation, associated with the Romanticism movement and classified as a genre painting, is currently housed in the Spencer Museum of Art at the University of Kansas in Lawrence, Kansas, United States.
In the artwork, three figures are depicted in an intricately detailed interior space. The central figure, dressed in a red robe, is seated and engaged in playing a small organ, while two attendants stand on either side. The figure on the left, adorned in green attire with a checkered undershirt, is involved in the intricate task of braiding the central figure’s auburn hair. Meanwhile, the figure on the right, clad in similar green garments and a white headpiece, holds up a tress of hair, appearing to be in the midst of the hairstyling process. The vivid colors and rich details bring a sense of intimate domesticity, with a background laden with festive elements such as holly, adding to the Christmas theme. The overall composition and use of colors embody the Romanticism movement’s focus on emotion and individual expression.
