Isabella Flores
There are two paintings that go by the name The Girl I Left Behind. The first is a painting by Jojo Moyes' fictional character Edouard LeFevre, who paints his wife Sophie's portrait before leaving to fight in World War I. The second is a painting by Eastman Johnson, created around 1872, a decade after the Civil War ended. The painting depicts a young girl standing on a promontory, with her hair streaming in the wind, and a wedding ring on her left hand. Johnson's painting invokes an Irish ballad that was popular with both the Union and Confederate armies during the Civil War.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Name of Painting | The Girl I Left Behind |
| Artist | Jojo Moyes (author), Edouard LeFevre (in-universe artist) |
| Characters | Sophie, Edouard LeFevre, Liv Halston, Paul McCafferty |
| Setting | 1916 occupied France |
| Owner | Liv Halston |
| Dimensions | Not mentioned |
| Medium | Oil on canvas |
| Real-life existence | No |
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What You'll Learn
'The Girl I Left Behind Me' by Eastman Johnson
The Girl I Left Behind Me is a painting by Eastman Johnson, created around 1872. It is an oil painting on canvas, measuring 42 x 34 7⁄8 inches (106.7 x 88.7 cm). The painting is part of the collection at the Smithsonian American Art Museum and was purchased by the museum in 1986, with funds provided by Mrs. Alexander Hamilton Rice in memory of her husband and by Ralph Cross Johnson.
The painting depicts a young girl standing on a promontory, her hair blowing in the wind. The path in front of her ends, leaving her with a choice to either turn back or find a new way forward. The girl's wedding ring, visible on her left hand, suggests a commitment to her marriage, while the split-rail fence and foggy landscape allude to a world of division and uncertainty.
The title of the painting, The Girl I Left Behind Me, is derived from an Irish ballad that was popular during the Civil War among both Union and Confederate soldiers. By invoking this song, Johnson adds a layer of complexity to the painting, suggesting that the girl may represent more than just a wife awaiting her husband's return. The painting's symbolism and ambiguity have sparked discussions and interpretations, with some viewers finding it enigmatic and open to interpretation.
Eastman Johnson created this painting about a decade after the conclusion of the Civil War, which had a profound impact on American art. Artists of this period moved away from the traditional European style of glorifying heroes on the battlefield. Instead, they chose to express the transformative effects of the war on the nation through landscapes and genre paintings, reflecting the country's ideals and concerns during this tumultuous time.
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The painting's subject matter
There are two paintings with similar names that I found in my search:
The Girl I Left Behind Me
The Girl I Left Behind Me is a painting by Eastman Johnson, created in 1872, a decade after the Civil War ended. It is an oil painting on canvas, measuring 42 x 34 7⁄8 inches (106.7 x 88.7 cm). The painting depicts a young girl standing on a promontory, her hair blowing in the wind. The path in front of her ends, leaving her with a choice to either turn back or find a new way forward. Johnson's choice of title for the painting is a reference to an Irish ballad that was popular among both Union and Confederate soldiers during the Civil War. The painting's subject, a young woman with a wedding ring, has been interpreted as a symbol of commitment, leaving viewers to question whether Johnson is referring to her personal life or to the nation. The landscape is divided by a split-rail fence, and the surrounding fog adds to the sense of ambivalence in the scene.
The Girl You Left Behind
The Girl You Left Behind is a painting created by the fictional artist Edouard LeFevre in Jojo Moyes' novel The Girl You Left Behind. In the story, LeFevre paints a portrait of his wife, Sophie, before leaving to fight in World War I. The painting becomes Sophie's most prized possession, and it even catches the eye of the local Kommandant, who falls in love with both the painting and its subject. In the present day, the painting is owned by Liv Halston, who received it as a gift from her husband. The ownership of the painting becomes disputed, as LeFevre's descendants work with an art recovery firm to retrieve it. The painting's value is estimated to be worth millions, and it plays a significant role in the novel's exploration of morality and the complexities of ownership during wartime.
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Jojo Moyes' novel 'The Girl You Left Behind'
Jojo Moyes' novel, *The Girl You Left Behind*, is not based on a real painting of the same name. However, the painting described in the novel, a portrait of a woman named Sophie, is reminiscent of a real painting by Eastman Johnson, titled "The Girl I Left Behind Me". Johnson's painting, created around 1872, depicts a young girl standing on a promontory, her hair blowing in the wind, and evokes an Irish ballad popular during the Civil War. In Moyes' novel, the fictional painting is created by Sophie's husband, Edouard LeFevre, before he leaves to fight in World War I. The painting becomes a prized possession for Sophie and is also cherished by Liv Halston, a woman grieving the loss of her husband in the present day. The ownership of the painting comes into question when the descendants of Edouard LeFevre attempt to recover it, creating a complex dynamic between the characters.
While the painting in Moyes' novel is not real, the description of it shares similarities with Eastman Johnson's work. Johnson's painting, "The Girl I Left Behind Me", is part of the collection at the Smithsonian American Art Museum. It depicts a young girl standing at a split-rail fence, with her hair blowing in the wind. The path in front of her ends, suggesting she must make a choice to either retrace her steps or find a different way forward. The painting's title references an Irish ballad popular during the Civil War, inviting interpretations about the subject's commitment to her union and her anticipation of what lies ahead.
In Jojo Moyes' novel, the fictional painting "The Girl You Left Behind" serves as a pivotal element that connects the stories of Sophie and Liv, two women separated by time but united by their connection to the painting and their experiences of love and loss. The painting becomes a symbol of enduring devotion, complex emotions, and the relative nature of morality during wartime.
The novel's exploration of art and its impact extends beyond the fictional painting. Moyes also delves into the world of art recovery and the complexities of ownership and value. Liv, faced with the possibility of losing the painting, must grapple with the question of whether a material object should hold such significance. The descendants of Édouard Lefèvre, meanwhile, are primarily concerned with the financial worth of the artwork rather than its beauty.
Through the lens of art, Moyes weaves a tale that spans generations, reflecting on the transformative impact of war, the enduring power of devotion, and the complexities of human connections. While the painting "The Girl You Left Behind" is a fictional creation, its inspiration and parallels with Eastman Johnson's work add depth and intrigue to the novel's narrative.
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The painting in Moyes' novel
In Jojo Moyes' novel, *The Girl You Left Behind*, the painting in question is a portrait of Sophie, the wife of a young artist named Edouard LeFevre, who leaves to fight in the First World War. Edouard paints the portrait and titles it 'The Girl You Left Behind' before he departs. The painting becomes Sophie's most prized possession, and she clings to it while her husband is away at war and later, as a prisoner of war. The painting also captures the attention of the local Kommandant, who falls in love with both the painting and Sophie herself, holding her captive.
In the present day, the painting is owned by Liv Halston, who received it as a gift from her husband, David, during their honeymoon. Liv is grieving her husband's death and struggles to move on with her life. She becomes entangled in a battle over the ownership of the painting with the descendants of Edouard LeFevre, who employ an art recovery firm led by Paul McCafferty to recover the prized painting. Liv desperately tries to prove that the painting was a gift, allowing her to hold onto a piece of her deceased husband.
The novel explores the transformative impact of war and how morality can become relative in times of conflict. Moyes did not base the painting on any particular artist but rather imagined Edouard LeFevre as a mixture of various Impressionist artists she observed at the Musée d’Orsay in Paris.
It is worth noting that there is a painting titled 'The Girl I Left Behind Me' by American artist Eastman Johnson, created around 1872. This painting depicts a young girl standing on a promontory, her hair blowing in the wind, and evokes a popular Civil War-era ballad of the same name. However, it is unclear if this painting inspired the one in Moyes' novel.
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The painting's ownership
The ownership of the painting "The Girl I Left Behind" is a central theme in Jojo Moyes' novel of the same name. In the story, the painting is initially owned by Sophie, whose husband, Edouard LeFevre, painted her portrait before leaving to fight in World War I. The painting becomes her most prized possession, especially after her husband is imprisoned. Unfortunately, the painting attracts the attention of the local Kommandant, who falls in love with both the painting and Sophie herself, leading to a complex dynamic between them.
As the story progresses, the ownership of the painting comes into question. Liv Halston, the modern-day protagonist grieving the loss of her husband, owns the painting, which her husband, David, had gifted her on their honeymoon. The painting is revealed to be the work of Edouard LeFevre, and his descendants, along with Paul McCafferty from an art recovery firm, seek to recover it. Liv desperately tries to prove that the painting was a gift and fights to retain ownership, even as she falls for Paul.
The novel explores the complex emotions and moral dilemmas surrounding the ownership of art, especially in times of war. It delves into the idea that a material object can hold significant sentimental value for an individual, even as others may prioritize its monetary worth. The story's dual timelines and contrasting characters, including Sophie, Edouard, Liv, and Paul, add depth to the narrative and showcase the enduring power of art across generations.
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Frequently asked questions
Yes, 'The Girl You Left Behind' is a real painting by Eastman Johnson, created circa 1872.
The painting depicts a young girl standing on a promontory, with her hair streaming in the wind. The path before her ends, so the girl is faced with the choice of retracing her steps or finding a different way forward.
The title of the painting is a reference to an Irish ballad that was popular during the American Civil War. The lyrics tell the story of a soldier leaving his beloved to join the army.
The painting measures 42 x 34 7⁄8 inches (106.7 x 88.7 cm).
'The Girl You Left Behind' is currently held in the collection of the Smithsonian American Art Museum.
