Literature and Visual Arts in Henry James’ Works

Being challenged to decipher “the Jamesian secret”, the present paper is an attempt to identify and explain the use of visual arts in James's works, to discover the characters’ quest for cultural identity. I found out that the arts offered a system of observation, a method of interpretative approach to the novels that was critically valid and in particular offered a wonderful means of grasping the central themes. Taking into account James's permanent awareness of his full role as an artist of words, he liked to use the vocabulary of the arts in discussing his own work.