Love’s Passing Evelyn De Morgan (1855-1919)

The composition presents a scene steeped in melancholy and symbolic weight. Here we observe four figures arranged along the bank of what appears to be a still body of water, set against a backdrop of a distant bridge and a twilight sky. The foreground is dominated by two central figures: a man and a woman seated close together. The man, with his flowing hair and exposed torso, leans back with an expression of profound sadness; his gaze directed towards the distance. Beside him sits the woman, her hand gently placed upon his arm, her face conveying a mixture of sorrow and tenderness.
To the left, a winged figure, presumably an angel or spirit, plays a flute. The music seems to permeate the scene, contributing to its atmosphere of lamentation. The angels posture is somewhat detached, observing the human drama unfolding before him. On the right side of the composition stands a cloaked figure, easily interpreted as Death, holding a scythe. He appears to be emerging from a shadowed area, suggesting an inevitable and encroaching presence.
Scattered across the ground are open pages of what seems to be a book or manuscript, alongside small wildflowers. These details suggest a narrative context – perhaps a story or poem that has been interrupted or abandoned. The placement of these items near the couple reinforces the sense of loss and transience.
The color palette is dominated by warm tones – reds, oranges, and browns – which contribute to the overall feeling of warmth and intimacy, yet also evoke a sense of decay and fading beauty. The light source appears to be coming from behind the figures, casting long shadows and highlighting their emotional expressions.
Subtly, the painting explores themes of love, loss, mortality, and the passage of time. The angel’s music underscores the ephemeral nature of human experience, while Deaths presence serves as a stark reminder of its ultimate conclusion. The couple’s posture and facial expressions convey a deep emotional connection, yet their proximity to Death suggests that even the most profound love is subject to the constraints of mortality. The scattered pages hint at a narrative disrupted by fate or circumstance, leaving the viewer to contemplate the fragility of human endeavors and relationships.