Blood Water Paint
Blood Water Paint by Joy McCullough, published by Penguin on March 6, 2018, is a novel in verse that explores the life of Artemisia Gentileschi, a talented painter in 17th-century Rome. After the death of her mother, Artemisia faces a pivotal choice between a life in a convent or pursuing her passion for painting. As she navigates a male-dominated society, she confronts the challenges of her craft and the trauma of sexual violence, ultimately choosing to express her truth through art.
In this poignant narrative, McCullough intertwines Artemisia’s journey with the stories of ancient heroines, Susanna and Judith, who serve as both subjects of her paintings and sources of inspiration. The book delves into themes of resilience and empowerment, highlighting the struggles women face in a world that seeks to silence them. With 304 pages, this edition presents a powerful exploration of social themes and historical context, inviting readers to reflect on the enduring impact of Artemisia’s story and the broader implications of women’s voices in art and society.
Official synopsis Publisher
“Haunting … teems with raw emotion, and McCullough deftly captures the experience of learning to behave in a male-driven society and then breaking outside of it.”—The New Yorker
“I will be haunted and empowered by Artemisia Gentileschi’s story for the rest of my life.”—Amanda Lovelace, bestselling author of the princess saves herself in this one
A William C. Morris Debut Award Finalist
2018 National Book Award Longlist
Her mother died when she was twelve, and suddenly Artemisia Gentileschi had a stark choice: a life as a nun in a convent or a life grinding pigment for her father’s paint.
She chose paint.
By the time she was seventeen, Artemisia did more than grind pigment. She was one of Rome’s most talented painters, even if no one knew her name. But Rome in 1610 was a city where men took what they wanted from women, and in the aftermath of rape Artemisia faced another terrible choice: a life of silence or a life of truth, no matter the cost.
He will not consume
my every thought.
I am a painter.
I will paint.
Joy McCullough’s bold novel in verse is a portrait of an artist as a young woman, filled with the soaring highs of creative inspiration and the devastating setbacks of a system built to break her. McCullough weaves Artemisia’s heartbreaking story with the stories of the ancient heroines, Susanna and Judith, who become not only the subjects of two of Artemisia’s most famous paintings but sources of strength as she battles to paint a woman’s timeless truth in the face of unspeakable and all-too-familiar violence.
I will show you
what a woman can do.
★”A captivating and impressive.”—Booklist, starred review
★”Belongs on every YA shelf.”—SLJ, starred review
★”Haunting.”—Publishers Weekly, starred review
★”Luminous.”—Shelf Awareness, starred review
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