The Blind Girl John Everett Millais (1829-1896)

This Victorian painting depicts a poignant scene of two young girls in a pastoral landscape.

In the foreground, a girl with long auburn hair, partially covered by a dark red shawl, is seated. Her eyes are closed, suggesting blindness or deep introspection. She clutches a small, beige accordion in her lap. Leaning towards her is another young girl with blonde hair, dressed in dark clothing and a blue skirt. The blonde girl has her arm around the seated girls shoulders and her face is turned away, her expression unreadable.

The background is a lush green field with scattered sheep and cows grazing. In the distance, a village or small town is visible nestled on a gentle slope, with trees and some ruined structures. Above, a dramatic sky displays a double rainbow arching across the dark, stormy clouds. Several black birds are scattered throughout the scene, some in flight and others perched on the ground.

Subtexts and Symbolism:

• Blindness and Insight: The title The Blind Girl strongly suggests that the main subject is blind. However, her serene expression and reliance on other senses to experience the world can be interpreted as a form of spiritual or emotional insight, contrasting with superficial physical sight.
• The Companion and Support: The blonde girl represents companionship, care, and potentially, a guiding figure. Her embrace suggests emotional support and tenderness towards the blind girl.
• Nature and Beauty: The vibrant, albeit stormy, landscape with the prominent double rainbow symbolizes hope, beauty, and the divine. The rainbow, often seen as a bridge between earth and heaven, or a sign of good fortune after a storm, offers a powerful symbol of optimism against the backdrop of potential hardship.
• Music and Solace: The accordion in the blind girls lap represents music and its ability to bring comfort, joy, or solace. It is a tangible object that she interacts with, perhaps a source of her inner world.
• Birds and Omens: The presence of black birds can carry various interpretations, from simple elements of the rural landscape to omens, the latter being a common practice in Victorian art.
• Social Commentary: The patched clothing of the girls, particularly the blue skirt, and their humble setting might hint at social class and the potentially challenging lives of the less fortunate in Victorian society. Yet, the overall mood is not entirely bleak, but rather one of gentle resilience and shared comfort.
• Inner vs. Outer World: The painting masterfully contrasts the girls intimate, emotional connection and the blind girls inner experience with the vast, detailed, and somewhat idealized external world. The focus on the girls’ faces and their interaction draws the viewer into their emotional space.