Wave 

Wilhelm Kotarbinski created ‘Wave’ using oil paint on canvas. The shimmering sea and supernatural figures are rendered with traditional fine art materials, though the scene suggests social tensions. Oil paint allows Kotarbinski to blend light and shadow, crafting a mystical ambiance. The waves, rendered with thick brushstrokes, convey both movement and a sense of foreboding. The mermaids emerge from this turbulent sea, their forms softly illuminated by the moon, while the fishermen huddle around a fire on the shore, their faces obscured. The painting is evocative of a period of social change, class divide and labor. This image prompts us to question the relationship between the natural world, human labor, and the realm of myth. By considering materials, making, and context, we deepen our understanding of the artwork.