Bewegte Wasser 1898

Gustav Klimt's "Bewegte Wasser," a painting of unclear date, presents us with a vision of women submerged in moving waters. The fluid, dreamlike state evokes the ancient motif of the water nymph, a symbol deeply rooted in mythology and the collective unconscious. These figures, with their flowing hair and languid poses, recall the water spirits of antiquity, such as the Lorelei, luring sailors with their beauty and song. Consider how these figures, found in ancient Greek art and literature, have resurfaced throughout history, embodying both allure and danger. Think of Ophelia, forever floating in the river, a tragic figure of feminine beauty intertwined with watery depths. This painting reflects an age-old fascination with water as a source of life and mystery, where the boundaries between reality and the subconscious blur.