Sketch for "A Mermaid" John William Waterhouse (1849-1917)

This is a painting titled Sketch for A Mermaid by John William Waterhouse. It depicts a young woman with long, flowing red hair, sitting in shallow water and combing her hair. Her upper body is bare, and she is cloaked in dark fabric around her waist, hinting at the tail of a mermaid. The background is impressionistic, with turbulent green and blue waves and a dark, indistinct shoreline with buildings.

The subtexts in this painting touch upon several themes:

• Myths and Legends: The most apparent subtext is the evocation of mermaid folklore. Mermaids are often depicted as beautiful, alluring, and sometimes dangerous creatures of the sea, symbolizing the mystery and allure of the ocean.
• Femininity and Beauty: The mermaid is presented as a figure of ethereal beauty with her long, vibrant hair and delicate features. This aligns with traditional artistic portrayals of feminine allure.
• Solitude and Contemplation: The mermaids pensive gaze and solitary action of combing her hair suggest a moment of introspection. She appears lost in thought, perhaps contemplating her existence, her longing for connection, or her place between the human and aquatic worlds.
• The Unseen and the Otherworldly: Mermaids exist in the realm of myth, representing the unknown and the fantastical. Their presence in art often brings a sense of wonder, magic, and a departure from everyday reality.
• Nature and the Sea: The dynamic depiction of the sea, with its crashing waves and rocky shore, emphasizes the raw, untamed power of nature, a fitting environment for a mythical sea creature.
• Longing and Incompleteness: Mermaids, particularly in folklore, often symbolize a yearning for something more, a desire to be part of the human world or to experience human emotions. This can be interpreted as a subtext of longing or a sense of incompleteness – an existence caught between two worlds.