Blood Water Paint

Told in verse, Joy McCullough’s debut young adult historical novel, Blood Water Paint (2018), is based on the true story of a young iconic painter who is raped and then must rebuild her life. The book received nominations for various awards, including the 2018 National Book Award for Young People’s Literature. After studying theatre in college, McCullough worked as a playwright and taught the craft to students. She still works as a playwright along with writing young adult and middle-grade novels.

Blood Water Paint is the story of Artemisia Gentileschi. Artemisia lives in early seventeenth-century Rome where women are powerless, and men control everything. Although Artemisia shows many signs of being a talented artist from the moment that she is old enough to hold a brush, she isn’t allowed to take credit for her work.

Although Blood Water Paint is mostly told from Artemisia’s perspective, some chapters are narrated by biblical heroes, Susanna and Judith. These stories serve as a warning to Artemisia to find her voice in a society that keeps her silent and downtrodden. As the book progresses, these biblical narratives become more significant to Artemisia’s character development and evolving courage.



The book begins in 1610, when Artemisia is a twelve-year-old girl living with her father, Orazio. Though Orazio doesn’t paint well, he takes credit for Artemisia’s work. While Orazio does very little all day, Artemisia spends her time painting, mixing pigments, and grinding colors. Although she is constantly working, Artemisia loves her art and wouldn’t trade it for anything in the world.

One day, a few years later when Artemisia turns seventeen, Orazio decides that Artemisia needs a tutor. Although she is talented, she needs someone who can give her greater direction. Hoping to find someone else with whom to share her love of art, Artemisia happily accepts Orazio’s offer. Orazio employs Agostino Tassi. He insists that Artemisia calls him “Tino.” Artemisia isn’t happy being so informal with a man she barely knows, but she doesn’t want to cause trouble.

Tino frequently shows up at Artemisia’s studio when she is alone. He knows he is only supposed to visit during scheduled hours, but he flouts the rules, making sure that Orazio is absent a lot. His presence makes Artemisia uncomfortable, because she shouldn’t be left alone with men who aren’t family, but she doesn’t tell Orazio in case he thinks that she is encouraging Tino’s affections. There is nothing worse in Artemisia’s society than being labeled a seductress, especially as she is not.



Meanwhile, Artemisia learns everything about perspective, expressing emotion on a canvas, and artistic depth. As she thrives under Tino’s tutelage, she forgets her concerns about him. However, Tino soon kisses Artemisia, and she frets about what this means for her career. Tino tells her not to worry, because he is in love with her and plans to marry her.

Artemisia doesn’t want to marry Tino and leave her father, even if Orazio does treat her like a slave. Tino offers her his own studio where she can work under her own name, but she is still hesitant. As Artemisia evaluates her situation and ponders what to do, Tino takes matters into his own hands and assaults her. Artemisia dismisses him, assuming that her career is over.

That night, however, Tino reappears. He tells Artemisia that she is a bad artist and that she will never make anything of herself. Artemisia dismisses him again, saying she doesn’t want to be his student anymore. Tino tells her that she doesn’t have the power to dismiss him and that he is owed for his services so far. Artemisia tells him that she is not responsible for Orazio’s debts and that he can take his payment concerns elsewhere.



Tino snaps and rapes Artemisia. He later returns to the studio, pretending nothing has happened. He continues to visit every day for art lessons. Artemisia can’t tell Orazio what happened, even as she breaks apart inside, because she knows that she will be blamed for his actions and made to marry him.

Eventually, Artemisia threatens to tell Orazio the truth. In retaliation, Tino destroys the painting she has been working on and says that she seduced him. No one will believe that Tino raped her. Artemisia reaches her own breaking point and dismisses Tino for good. Now she must face the hardest challenge yet—telling her father the truth.

When Artemisia tells Orazio what happened, he tells her she must let it go because there is nothing anyone can do for her. However, determined to seek justice for what happened, Artemisia, begs Orazio to help her make her case. Inspired by Susanna and Judith who both suffered sexual abuse, Artemisia wants to prove that she is as courageous as they are.



Orazio agrees to help her with her case. However, no one believes her; everyone assumes she is a seductress shunned by a lover. Her virtue will never be recovered. Artemisia knows that any victory she gains will be a hollow one, because so many people believe she is deceitful, but she did what she set out to do—she gave herself a voice when no one else would.