#45585 Arnold Böcklin (1827-1901)

The composition presents a layered scene, divided into distinct foreground and background elements unified by a central architectural feature. In the immediate foreground, two cherubic figures occupy a grassy area strewn with wildflowers. One child kneels near a shallow pool of water, seemingly engaged in play, while the other sits upright, holding a single rose. Their postures suggest innocence and carefree enjoyment of their surroundings.
Behind them rises an elaborate stone fountain, its archway inscribed with Latin text – BREVIS SOMNIUM. The fountain’s sculpted face appears to be weeping or exhaling water, contributing to a sense of melancholy that contrasts with the playful nature of the foreground children. A garland of roses adorns the structure, adding a decorative element and potentially symbolizing fleeting beauty or love.
The middle ground is dominated by lush foliage and a pathway leading towards the background. Standing near the fountain is a woman, her pose suggesting both contemplation and offering. She holds a bouquet of flowers in one hand and extends the other as if presenting something to an unseen recipient. Her attire – a partially exposed breast and a blue robe – hints at classical or mythological associations.
The background depicts riders on horseback, positioned further back within a landscape of trees and sky. The figures are rendered with less detail than those in the foreground, creating a sense of distance and emphasizing their symbolic role rather than individual identity. One rider is clad in red, while another appears to be gesturing towards the fountain or the woman nearby.
The painting’s subtexts revolve around themes of transience, beauty, and perhaps mortality. The inscription on the fountain – BREVIS SOMNIUM (brief dream) – immediately establishes a sense of ephemerality. The playful children contrast with this notion, suggesting an obliviousness to the passage of time or the inevitability of loss. The woman’s gesture could be interpreted as an offering to the fleeting nature of existence, or perhaps a symbolic representation of beauty and grace in the face of mortality. The riders in the background may represent forces beyond human control, observing or influencing the scene unfolding below. Overall, the work evokes a contemplative mood, prompting reflection on the brevity of life and the enduring power of beauty.