Blood Water Paint
- Subject
- Historical - Europe
- Age
- Teen
- Format
- Trade Paperback
- Pages
- 320
- Publisher
- Penguin Books
- Size
- 13.7 cm × 20.6 cm
- ISBN
- 9780735232136
A harrowing and empowering story of strength and persistence in the aftermath of sexual assault, written in stunning verse and based on the life of seventeenth-century painter Artemisia Gentileschi.
LONGLISTED FOR THE NATIONAL BOOK AWARD • A WILLIAM C. MORRIS DEBUT AWARD FINALIST • A KIRKUS REVIEWS BEST YOUNG ADULT BOOK OF THE CENTURY
"Haunting . . . teems with raw emotion . . . deftly captures the experience of learning to behave in a male-driven society and then breaking outside of it."—The New Yorker
He will not consume
my every thought.
I am a painter.
I will paint.
I will show you
what a woman can do.
After her mother died when she just twelve, Artemisia Gentileschi had a stark choice to make: 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.
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 those of ancient heroines Susanna and Judith, who become not only the subjects of two of Artemisia's most famous paintings, but also sources of strength as she battles to paint a woman's timeless truth in the face of unspeakable and all-too-familiar violence.
LONGLISTED FOR THE NATIONAL BOOK AWARD • A WILLIAM C. MORRIS DEBUT AWARD FINALIST • A KIRKUS REVIEWS BEST YOUNG ADULT BOOK OF THE CENTURY
"Haunting . . . teems with raw emotion . . . deftly captures the experience of learning to behave in a male-driven society and then breaking outside of it."—The New Yorker
He will not consume
my every thought.
I am a painter.
I will paint.
I will show you
what a woman can do.
After her mother died when she just twelve, Artemisia Gentileschi had a stark choice to make: 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.
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 those of ancient heroines Susanna and Judith, who become not only the subjects of two of Artemisia's most famous paintings, but also sources of strength as she battles to paint a woman's timeless truth in the face of unspeakable and all-too-familiar violence.
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What reviewers said
A Kirkus Reviews Best Book of the 21st Century (So Far)
"Haunting ... Blood Water Paint does not read like historical fiction. It 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."
"An impassioned, lushly described account of a young woman who refuses to dwell in secret shame. Blood Water Paint fits smoothly into the current conversation surrounding the #MeToo movement."
"Coming out of the novel, I knew I would be haunted and empowered by Artemisia’s story for the rest of my life."
"McCullough has managed to vividly capture a singularly brave, resilient feminist who became an icon during a time when women had almost no agency. Her story and the stunning verse through which it is told will resonate just as strongly with readers today. A captivating and impressive debut about a timeless heroine."
"McCullough’s beautifully crafted text will inspire upper-middle/high school readers to research the true story upon which this powerful piece of historical fiction is based. The poetry is clear and revelatory, exploring Artemisia’s passion for both art and life. The expression of her intense feelings is gripping and her complexity of character make her a force to be reckoned with, both in her times and in ours."
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