A Winged Sorceress Soaring above Mountains 1907

This tiny watercolour shows a winged sorceress soaring above mountains and was made by an anonymous artist. The palette here is wonderfully subdued, a mix of muted blues, browns, and beiges that give the whole scene a dreamlike quality. I like to imagine the artist carefully layering each wash of colour, letting the water do its thing, creating these subtle gradations. There’s a sense of freedom in the way the artist has handled the watercolour, particularly in the wispy clouds. The way the blues run together in the sorceress’s wings is also quite beautiful. It’s loose and gestural. And, I love how the delicate trailing tail of leaves adds a touch of whimsy and lightness. It all feels so spontaneous, like the artist was just playing with the medium and letting their imagination run wild. There’s something about the ethereal quality of this piece that reminds me of Odilon Redon’s dreamscapes. But where Redon is all about mystery and symbolism, this piece feels more playful, like a fairy tale unfolding before our eyes.