The sleep of Brunnhilde 1910

Arthur Rackham imagined Brunnhilde’s slumber using watercolour and ink. The magic of this piece really lies in the way the washes create depth and atmosphere. I’m drawn to the ethereal quality of the smoke-like tendrils that rise and swirl around the sleeping figure. They almost seem to cradle her, adding to the sense of enchantment and stillness. You can really see the hand of the artist in the way that the lines feel so free and intuitive, dancing across the page. The colour is translucent, creating soft textures with a dreamlike quality. There’s a real sense of movement, a dance between light and shadow, and between control and chance. Rackham's piece reminds me a little of Odilon Redon’s symbolist drawings, which also delve into the realm of dreams and mythology. Both artists share a fascination with the mysterious and intangible. In art, as in dreams, things aren't always what they seem!