Evelyn De Morgan, S.O.S. - 1916 by Atelier Liesjes

Evelyn reacted to the horror and senselessness of the First World War (WW1) with a series of works that tried to deal with the conflict between good and evil. This painting owes its title to the then relatively new morse code for help. The literal translation of the message (save our soul) also gives an idea of what is really at stake here.

The only female figure in white robes symbolizes the innocence of war victims. She stands on a lonely rock, her hands outstretched and her eyes to heaven, seeking both physical and spiritual salvation from her plight as she is besieged by thundering waves and many sea snakes. Dragons and sea monsters are often used in Evelyn's symbolic lexicon to refer to evil and death. In this painting, however, Evelyn produces a glimmer of hope for eventual salvation with the addition of the rainbow - symbolic of the afterlife.

Evelyn De Morgan (London, 30 August 1855 - there, 2 May 1919) was an English painter associated with the movement of the Pre-Raphaelites. She studied spiritualism, was an advocate of social reforms such as women's suffrage and was interested in moral issues. She derived her themes from religious and allegorical figures and scenes and strong female figures, often with a message of hope and courage.