CAJVTB6F Arnold Böcklin (1827-1901)

The painting presents a figure that blends human and aquatic characteristics, reclining upon a roughly hewn wooden structure seemingly afloat on water. The upper portion of the composition depicts what appears to be a woman with long, flowing red hair, her face exhibiting an expression of melancholy or perhaps resignation. Her skin tone is pale, contrasting with the darker hues surrounding her. One arm extends towards the viewer, while the other rests along her side.
Below the torso and head, the figure transitions into a scaled tail, indicative of a mermaid or similar mythical creature. The tail’s texture is rendered with considerable detail, suggesting both strength and fluidity. A portion of the fish-like lower body emerges from the water, reflecting in the surface below.
Perched atop the wooden platform are three dark birds – likely gulls – their presence adding an element of observation or perhaps foreboding to the scene. They appear almost detached, witnesses to the figure’s solitude. The background is a muted blend of blues and greens, evoking a sense of vastness and isolation. A hazy shoreline can be discerned in the distance, further emphasizing the figures separation from land.
The painting evokes themes of longing, loss, and the liminal space between worlds. The mermaid’s expression suggests an internal struggle or a deep sadness, hinting at a yearning for something unattainable. Her hybrid nature – part human, part creature of the sea – implies a sense of displacement and otherness. The birds, with their watchful gaze, could symbolize fate or the indifference of nature to individual suffering. The subdued color palette reinforces the overall mood of quiet despair and introspection. The composition’s focus on the figures isolation suggests an exploration of themes related to identity, belonging, and the human condition within a larger, often uncaring universe.