The Heart Desires - Edward Burne-Jones

The first scene in Edward Burne-Jones's Pygmalion series, depicting the sculptor in his studio contemplating his work.

The Heart Desires is the first painting in the four-part Pygmalion series by Edward Burne-Jones. This cycle depicts the Ovidian myth of the sculptor who falls in love with his own creation. In this opening scene, the sculptor stands in his studio, surrounded by unfinished statues of women. He appears detached from the world outside, where other figures are visible through an archway. His posture suggests a state of contemplation or longing, setting the tone for the narrative that follows.

Burne-Jones employs a muted palette, which directs attention to the psychological state of the protagonist. The composition is structured to separate the sculptor from the external environment, creating a sense of isolation. The figures in the background are rendered with a degree of ambiguity, contrasting with the more defined form of the sculptor. This work reflects the artist's interest in classical themes, filtered through the aesthetic sensibilities of the late nineteenth-century British art scene. The series as a whole explores the relationship between the artist and the object of his creation, a theme that occupied Burne-Jones throughout his career.

This print captures the atmospheric quality of the original oil painting. The lighting is managed to create a sense of depth within the studio space, while the figures retain the elongated proportions characteristic of the artist's mature style. The work is a representative example of the later Pre-Raphaelite approach, where narrative clarity is balanced with symbolic suggestion. It provides an insight into the artist's method of constructing a sequence of images to tell a complex story, moving from the initial desire of the sculptor to the eventual animation of the statue.