A Mermaid, 1900 is a painting by John William Waterhouse RA which was uploaded on June 24th, 2020.
A Mermaid, 1900
Mermaids traditionally were sirens who lured sailors to their death through their captivating song. They were also tragic figures as mermaids could... more
Title
A Mermaid, 1900
Artist
John William Waterhouse RA
Medium
Painting - Oil On Canvas
Description
Mermaids traditionally were sirens who lured sailors to their death through their captivating song. They were also tragic figures as mermaids could not survive in the human world which they yearned for and men could not exist in their watery realm, so any relationship was doomed. In Waterhouse's painting no sailors are depicted so that despite being a 'siren' the mermaid is shown as an alluring rather lonely figure, albeit with a fish tail. The atmosphere evoked is one of gentle melancholy as the mermaid sits alone in an isolated inlet, dreamily combing out her long hair with her lips parted in song. Beside her is a shell filled with pearls, which some believed to be formed from the tears of dead sailors.
Uploaded
June 24th, 2020
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