Asenath (from the Picture Book for the Red Cross) - Edmund Dulac

A delicate watercolour illustration of Asenath by Edmund Dulac, originally created for the 1915 Picture Book for the Red Cross.

This illustration by Edmund Dulac depicts the biblical figure Asenath, the wife of Joseph. It appeared in the 1915 publication, Picture Book for the Red Cross, a volume produced to raise funds for the British Red Cross during the First World War. Dulac, a French-born artist who became a naturalised British citizen, was a central figure in the early twentieth-century tradition of gift-book illustration. His work is characterised by a refined sensibility and a meticulous approach to detail.

The composition presents Asenath in a standing pose, holding a single white flower. She wears a dark, patterned skirt paired with an orange shawl and a long, translucent veil that trails behind her. The figure is rendered with a delicate touch, typical of Dulac's watercolour technique. He employs soft washes of colour to create a sense of atmosphere, while the fine lines define the contours of the figure and the texture of her garments. The background is kept minimal, allowing the focus to remain entirely on the subject.

Dulac's style often drew upon diverse visual traditions, including Persian miniatures and Japanese woodblock prints, which he synthesised into his own distinct aesthetic. In this piece, the influence of Eastern decorative arts is visible in the stylised treatment of the clothing and the graceful, elongated lines of the veil. The work reflects the period's interest in exoticism and historical narrative, presented through the lens of high-quality book illustration. As a print, this image retains the soft, ethereal quality of the original watercolour, making it a representative example of Dulac's contribution to the decorative arts of the Edwardian era.