Arthur B. Davies – Unicorns (Legend—Sea Calm) Metropolitan Museum: part 3

The composition presents a landscape dominated by a still body of water, its surface mirroring the undulating terrain that rises in the background. The palette is restrained, primarily employing earthy tones – ochres, browns, and muted greens – creating a sense of quietude and melancholy. A dark border frames the scene, intensifying the focus on the central elements.
Along the shoreline, three figures are positioned. To the left, a solitary figure stands draped in flowing white garments, their posture suggesting contemplation or perhaps mourning. Their face is obscured, adding to an air of mystery and detachment. Closer to the right edge of the canvas, two women kneel near a group of three pale, almost luminous creatures with spiraling horns. The interaction between these figures appears gentle; one woman extends her hand towards one of the animals, while the other seems to be observing them with quiet reverence.
The landscape itself is rendered in a manner that blurs the line between reality and dreamscape. The mountains appear both solid and ethereal, their reflections distorted by the water’s surface. This creates an unsettling ambiguity – a sense that the scene exists outside of conventional time or space. The vegetation surrounding the kneeling figures is lush but stylized, contributing to the overall feeling of unreality.
Subtleties in the arrangement suggest symbolic weight. The solitary figures isolation might represent a state of spiritual yearning or loss. The presence of the horned creatures – their purity emphasized by their stark white coloration – hints at themes of myth and legend, perhaps alluding to innocence, grace, or unattainable ideals. Their proximity to the women suggests a connection between humanity and something beyond the everyday world.
The mirroring effect in the water is particularly significant. It not only doubles the visual impact of the landscape but also implies duality – a reflection of inner states onto the external world, or perhaps a suggestion that what we perceive as reality is merely an echo of something deeper. The overall impression is one of quiet drama and symbolic resonance, inviting contemplation on themes of loss, faith, and the elusive nature of beauty.