Three mermaids in the water 

Otto Scholderer rendered these three mermaids in the water, using pastel on paper, sometime in the late 19th century. The mermaid, a creature of dual nature, has long haunted the human imagination, symbolizing both allure and danger. Here, they are presented as both sensuous and wild, their forms caught between human and animal. In ancient lore, mermaids—like sirens—were often depicted as enchantresses who lured sailors to their doom with mesmerizing songs. The mermaid's presence is not confined to ancient Greece, but echoes through medieval bestiaries and Renaissance tapestries, each era imbuing her with new significance. Consider the mermaid's kinship with other hybrid creatures, like the centaur or sphinx, beings that embody a bridge—or a conflict—between instinct and reason. The mermaid motif reflects our own internal struggles with the untamed aspects of the self, the subconscious urges that simmer beneath the surface of our civilized facades. Each depiction of the mermaid invites us to confront the deep waters of our psyche, acknowledging the primal forces that continue to shape our perceptions.