The Children of Lir 1914

John Duncan created this painting, The Children of Lir, with what looks like watercolour and gouache, maybe around the turn of the century. The approach here feels very intuitive, particularly in the way the figures emerge from the ground with soft, feathery marks. It's all about the process, the magic of image-making, right? The surface is so smooth, almost ethereal, which really enhances the dreamlike quality of the scene. Duncan uses a pale, muted palette, giving it this otherworldly, melancholic feel. Notice the way the figures blend with the stormy sky and the sea. Look at the way the swan's wing is almost an extension of the woman’s body, these soft, overlapping forms that add to the sense of transformation and sadness. It reminds me a little of some of Odilon Redon’s Symbolist works, with their exploration of dreams and the subconscious, though Duncan brings a distinct Celtic sensibility to it. This piece feels like a portal, an invitation to imagine our way into ancient stories.