Is he holding her up or pulling her down? Don't most lovers do a bit of each? I painted this as a newlywed and marriage definitely brings astounding joy and the depths of sorrow. I count myself among the fortunate, it has been more joy than sorrow. Joy and Sorrow took nearly a year to complete. I had finished the whole thing and then decided to start over. It was a difficult piece to find my direction with, but a favorite in many ways. Sometimes I miss it.