Jongen met een vissenstaart onder water tussen vissen en planten 1887 - 1911

Editor: This is "Boy with a Fish Tail Underwater Among Fish and Plants," a pen and ink drawing by Gust van de Wall Perné, created sometime between 1887 and 1911. It feels so… dreamy, almost unsettling. There’s a sense of mystery with the stark black ink, and of course, the merman child. What stands out to you as you look at this artwork? Curator: The piece pulls us into a submerged world, a realm of hidden symbols. The aquatic setting, the boy's transformation, the lily pads—all are steeped in rich cultural memory. Consider the enduring symbolism of water: purification, the unconscious, the source of life. The merman figure embodies a liminal state, a being caught between worlds, hinting at a desire for transformation, maybe even escape. Editor: I see what you mean! The water and merman, it is more than a fantasy illustration, but almost something psychological. But what about the lily pads, and the reeds rendered with such thick, dark lines? Curator: Ah, the lotus or lily pad! Think of its prevalence in Eastern philosophies. Rising from murky waters to bloom, they represent enlightenment, purity, and rebirth. The dark, dense reeds surrounding the merman? They might symbolize the barriers, both internal and external, that impede our own journeys toward self-discovery. What feelings do the contrasting dark lines of the reeds against the lily pads give you? Editor: A push and pull... attraction, but also danger or caution. Curator: Exactly. And consider the fish… throughout history, the fish has symbolized faith, abundance, and transformation. Note their placement within the scene, their gaze. Even the bubbles could be seen as fleeting thoughts or transient moments in the conscious. Editor: I didn't realize how loaded with symbolism this seemingly simple drawing is. Now I’m looking at it in a completely different light! Thanks for opening my eyes to the deeper cultural narratives embedded in this work. Curator: Indeed. It shows us how art serves as a repository of cultural memory, a canvas upon which human emotions and experiences are perpetually reimagined and redefined.