Wood nymph and shepherd 1905

Ferdinand Leeke made this painting of a wood nymph and a shepherd in oil, sometime in the late 19th century. The nymph's dress, a luminous turquoise, stands out, a real splash of color. You can almost feel the way the paint moves, thick in some places, thin in others, creating this dreamy, textured surface. I love the way the artist captures the light filtering through the leaves, dappling the nymph and the mossy ground. See that little waterfall detail to the left of her? The paint there is almost translucent, giving it a shimmering quality. You can see the influence of impressionism here, but it is so much more theatrical. It reminds me a little of Böcklin's paintings, that same sense of myth and nature intertwined. But here, it’s like Leeke is inviting us into a fairy tale, leaving room for our own imagination to wander. There’s an ambiguity, a sense of possibilities, which I really appreciate.