Ulysses #065 ‘Enter Bloom’

Colours of Ulysses #065 – “Enter Bloom”

Ulysses #065, “Enter Bloom,” marks the first appearance of Leopold Bloom, the novel’s central character. To honour this pivotal moment, this artwork is the first in the Colours of Ulysses series created in this size—a statement piece reflecting Bloom’s entrance into the narrative.

I captured the scene through rich, earthy tones, inspired by the kidney Bloom eats for breakfast and the other organ meats he enjoys: the deep reds of stuffed roasted heart, the dark red-purple of fried liver slices, and the warm beige of crusty breadcrumbs. Living as an Irish woman in rural Hungary, I connect deeply with this kind of food—my Hungarian mother-in-law often prepares zuzapörkölt with chicken hearts and stomach, while my husband regularly fries liver for me. Nothing is wasted—just the way I like it.

The composition is both playful and complex, much like Ulysses itself. Parallel brushstrokes evoke the pages of the book, layering depth and meaning into the piece, marking the very moment Bloom steps onto the stage of Joyce’s masterpiece.