The sleep of Brunnhilde 1910

Arthur Rackham made this watercolor of Brunnhilde sometime in the early 20th century. Look at those delicate washes of blues, greys, and browns—they create such a dreamy atmosphere. I can almost feel the cool mountain air, the stillness of the scene. I wonder what Rackham was thinking when he painted those wispy strokes around Brunnhilde? Did he want to evoke a sense of mystery, enchantment, or perhaps even danger? It’s like she’s suspended between worlds. Rackham’s illustration reminds me of other painters who explored similar themes of mythology and fantasy, like Gustave Moreau. There’s a shared interest in creating these otherworldly spaces that tap into our collective imagination. Painting, in this sense, becomes a way to access different realms of experience. It's all one big conversation across time.